Jerusalem  - In what was said to be "the most significant archaeological discovery in Israel since the Dead Sea Scrolls," archaeologists have unearthed the earliest known written Hebrew text, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem announced Thursday.

The 3,000-year-old 15 x 15 cm osctracon (pottery shard inscribed with writing in ink) comprises five lines of text divided by black lines and and was found at excavations carried out at a 10th century BCE fortress.

Jerusalem  - Israeli archeologists said Thursday they have found a "rare" stone seal in an ancient building being excavated near the Wailing Wall, a remnant of the Jewish Biblical Temple within the historic, walled Old City of Jerusalem.

The 1.2 centimetre by 1.4 centimetre black stone has an engraving of an archer shooting a bow and arrow. The Biblical Jewish name Habab appears next to the archer in ancient Hebrew script.

Jerusalem- Israel will hold e

Jerusalem - Israeli President Shimon Peres gave the green light Monday for the country to hold new elections, telling parliament that consultations he had held with political parties led him to conclude that no legislator had enough backing to form a coalition government.

The president had completed the consultations earlier Monday, a day after Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni informed him that she was unable to form a government to replace that headed by Ehud Olmert, who resigned the premiership on September 21.

Jerusalem - Israeli President Shimon Peres gave the green light Monday for the co

Jerusalem - Israeli President Shimon Peres completed consultations with parliamentary factions Monday, preparing the ground for early elections in the politically turbulent country before March.

A day after Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni informed him that she was unable to form a government, Peres was expected to announce to Knesset speaker Dalia Itzik Monday afternoon that his consultations had left him with no option but to call for new elections.