Seven Palestinians were detained as clashes erupted with Israeli forces at al-Aqsa Mosque compound Feb. 28, with discord reported throughout the Old City of occupied East Jerusalem. Israeli police stormed the compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, after Palestinian youths barricaded inside and threw stones at visitors they believed to be radical Jewish settlers. The protesters staged the occupation in response to rumors that militant Jews planned to take over the compound during the Purim holiday that began that day. They were also protesting Israel's recent decision to add the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron and Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem to its list of national heritage sites.

Stanley Fischer, governor of the Bank of Israel, flew to China Feb. 24 to urge Beijing to back sanctions against Iran over its suspected nuclear weapons project. Fischer, a former high official at the World Bank and IMF, was accompanied by Israel's minister for strategic affairs, Moshe Yaalon, and representatives of Israel's National Security Council. "They will discuss issues of common interest with the Chinese. This includes the Iranian issue, which is important for the Chinese as well as Israel," Yaalon's spokesman said.

The Israeli government's decision to include two West Bank locations—the Cave of the Patriarchs and Rachel's Tomb—on a list of "national heritage sites" has sparked an uproar in the country's political circles. Chaim Oron, chairman of the left-wing Meretz party, slammed the decision Feb. 21, saying "This is another attempt to blur the borders between the State of Israel and the occupied territories."

When Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, a senior Hamas official reportedly behind the smuggling of Iranian arms to Gaza, was found dead in his hotel room in Dubai, UAE, on Jan. 20, the organization was quick to point the finger at Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, vowing revenge attacks. But a preliminary investigation conducted by Hamas suggests that the assassination was likely carried out by agents of an Arab government, Israel's Ha'aretz reports.

Two high-ranking Israeli military officers have been disciplined for firing shells into a populated area of the Gaza Strip during last year's Operation Cast Lead, it was revealed Feb. 1. The information was contained in a 46-page report presented to the UN on Jan. 29 describing Israel's role in the January 2009 Gaza offensive. According to the report, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fired several artillery shells near populated areas in the Tel el-Hawa neighborhood of Gaza City, destroying a UN compound and a Palestinian hospital. The UN maintains that the compound was hit with white phosphorus shells, while the report concludes that the "use of this weapon in the operation was consistent with Israel's obligations under international law." The two officers involved have since been disciplined for "exceeding their authority in a manner that jeopardized the lives of others," but the Military Advocate General will not pursue a criminal investigation, and the officers will keep their rank and pay. (Jurist, Feb. 1)

From the World Jewish Congress, Jan. 25:

Anti-Semitism has reached its highest level since the end of World War II, the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) has concluded in its latest report released in Jerusalem on Sunday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Jan. 10 announced plans for the construction of 70 miles of fence along Israel's border with Egypt. In explaining the purpose for the barrier, which has an estimated cost of more than $400 million, Netanyahu said: "I decided to close Israel's southern border to infiltrators and terrorists after prolonged discussions with Government ministries and professional elements. This is a strategic decision to ensure the Jewish and democratic character of the State of Israel. Israel will remain open to war refugees but we cannot allow thousands of illegal workers to infiltrate into Israel via the southern border and flood our country."

Israel has been conducting tests of a short-range missile-defense system to fend off rockets from the Gaza Strip, dubbed the "Iron Dome," and says the system is nearly ready to be deployed. (UPI, Jan. 8) The announcement comes as the Israeli Defense Forces launched four air-strikes on the Gaza Strip, targeting a supposed weapons shop and two smuggling tunnels, killing at least three. (CNN, Jan. 8)