The World Food Program announced Wednesday cuts in food aid affecting about 190,000 impoverished Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank – half of all its recipients there, citing a severe funding shortfall. The U.N. agency said it would, as of Jan. 1, suspend food assistance to 27,000...

A bill that would allow Israel to exile families of Palestinians accused of attacking Israelis passed the first reading in Knesset (Israel’s parliament) on Wednesday. In a tumultuous Knesset session, the controversial draft was approved in the first reading by 69-38 votes....

A public opinion poll shows that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas would lose to the leader of Hamas if elections were held today. The poll conducted by prominent pollster Khalil Shikaki and released Tuesday shows that Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh would win with 49 percent to Abbas' 42...

The United States hopes Lebanon's next government will work with it on areas of mutual interest, a State Department official said on Tuesday, and expressed concern over Hezbollah's rising clout in the country. "We hope Lebanon's next government will build a stable and secure Lebanon...