Saudi Arabia removes an 11-year ban on livestock imports from Somalia after fears of Rift Valley Fever were allayed

Hikers were arrested for illegally entering Iran, being held at notorious Evin prison in Tehran

During three-week-long Israeli military incursion into Gaza Strip, at least 1,300 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed

Syrian novelist and democracy activist Ammar Abdulhamid talks about impediments to and incentives for greater democracy in the Arab world

Israel calls accusation of war crimes during the Gaza conflict, in which 13 Israelis and nearly 1,400 Palestinians killed, 'completely detached from reality'

ISNA news agency quotes prominent conservative lawmaker as saying Iran will not send abroad any of its 1,200 kilograms of enriched uranium

Prime minister-designate preparing to announce new government after securing opposition's support five months after winning election

Repeated failure to reach consensus on controversial bill raises doubts that elections will take place as planned on January 16

Rules needed for parliamentary elections scheduled for January

Thousands gather at site of his 1995 assassination in Tel Aviv