Israel shelled southern Lebanon Feb. 21 after a rocket hit its territory, injuring three people near the town of Maalot in the western Galilee region. "The Israeli army considers this a serious incident and believes it is the responsibility of the Lebanese government and the army to prevent this rocket fire," an Israeli army spokesman said. Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora denounced the violence, which caused panic on both sides of the border, while Hezbollah denied any involvement. "The Israeli shelling is an unacceptable and unjustified violation of Lebanese sovereignty," Siniora said in a statement. But he added: "The rockets launched from Lebanon threaten the country's security and stability and constitute a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701."

From the New York Times, Feb. 11:

The Palestinian Authority is pressing the International Criminal Court in The Hague to investigate accusations of war crimes committed by Israeli commanders during the recent war in Gaza.

Several Israeli military vehicles overran the Qalqiliya-area village of Jayyous the night of Feb. 11 and imposed a curfew on the area. The troops blasted into the area amid gunfire and sound bombs, announcing a curfew to residents, witnesses reported. As the soldiers entered the village Palestinian youths showered the vehicles with stones and empty bottles, sparking brief clashes. Locals host weekly demonstrations against the building of the separation wall on village land, and have reported an increase in Israeli military activity since the popular campaign started. (Ma'an News Agency, Feb. 11)

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and hawkish ex-premier Benjamin Netanyahu are locked in a battle for power after a tight election that could send peace talks into limbo. Livni's Kadima party won 28 seats in the 120-member Knesset, just one ahead of Netanyahu's Likud party, leaving the country facing perhaps weeks of political uncertainty. An overall lurch to the right makes it more likely Netanyahu will return to the nation's most powerful post, but Livni immediately started coalition talks, meeting with Avigdor Lieberman of the ultra-nationalist Yisrael Beitenu—who observers say has emerged as king-maker.

A Turkish state prosecutor has launched an investigation into allegations that Israel's offensive in Gaza amounted to genocide and crimes against humanity, based on research of the Islamic-oriented human rights organization Mazlum-Der. The complaint filed by Mazlum-Der names 19 people including Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, President Shimon Peres, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defense Minister Ehud Barak. "We submitted the complaint against those who we could prove were in some way responsible for giving orders for the attack on Gaza," said Mazlum-Der attorney Meryem Sari.

From The Telegraph, Jan. 28:

Benjamin Netanyahu, the favourite to win next month's Israeli general election, yesterday predicted al-Qaeda would blow up the purported burial place of Jesus Christ if the country relinquished control of Jerusalem.

The Israeli human rights group Yesh Din announced Jan. 29 it is launching a campaign to help Palestinians sue the state of Israel for its use of their privately owned lands for Jewish settlement in the West Bank. The campaign follows the publication in the newspaper Ha'aretz of classified government data regarding the extent of construction in officially recognized settlements that is illegal under Israel's own laws. Violations include private and public building carried out without appropriate permits or outside of approved plans, as well as the construction of whole neighborhoods on private Palestinian lands.

Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has assembled a team to defend his government against charges of war crimes in its recent Gaza Strip offensive. Justice Minister Daniel Friedman is to lead an inter-ministerial team to prepare legal defenses for Israeli officials and military personnel. Israeli Attorney General Menachem Mazuz warned earlier this week that Israel may face a wave of international lawsuits over its 22-day offensive.