Israel's election candidates have taken a lead from Barack Obama's unprecedented and original use of slogans, the Internet and the mobilisation of activists - but will it work?
YouTube proved to be a powerful tool for democracy in the recent US election, and now it is the Israelis' turn to speak out. The website has become a platform for voters to put questions directly to the candidates ahead of the Feb. 10 poll.
On Dec. 27 Israel launched “Operation Cast Lead” on the Gaza Strip. While the strikes' stated objective was to end Hamas rocket attacks, the launch is also dictated by a schedule of domestic, regional and international deadlines, experts say.
Since the start of the latest offensive against Gaza, the Arab world has been rocked by demonstrations not only against the Israeli attacks but, more significantly, against the perceived “silence” of several Arab governments.
At the start of December cluster bombs were banned by close to 100 countries at a convention in Norway. But will this new international pressure to stop their usage convince countries such as the USA and Russia who refused to sign?
A team of Egyptian archaeologists have discovered a previously unknown pyramid, which probably housed the remains of Queen Sesheshet, hidden beneath 20 metres of sand. The monument is believed to date back to 2,700 BC.
Tatiana EL KHOURY 
