Jerusalem, Mar 14 : A senior US official has expressed strong disagreement with the British decision to begin contacts with Lebanese terror group Hizbullah.

The British Government hold an opposing view of the terror group, and this is their basis for dealing with the political organization.

President Barack Obama's Administration does not view Hizbullah as an entity with separate military, political and social wings, according to a top US official.

Jerusalem, Mar 10 : French first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy has joined the efforts of the Hadassah Medical Organization and Hadassah-France to help raise money for AIDS research.

The fund will also be in aid of treatment of HIV/AIDS patients at Jerusalem''s Hadassah-University Medical Centre, and an outreach program in African countries.

Bruni was the guest of honour at a Paris gala dinner for Hadassah-France (now marking its 25th anniversary) to raise money for AIDS prevention, education and treatment.

Jerusalem, Mar 9 : Former Israeli President Moshe Katsav will be charged with several serious sexual offenses, including rape, Attorney General Menachem Mazuz has announced.

Mazuz is ready to indict Moshe Katsav on charges stemming from sexual offenses, including rape, allegedly committed while he was President and Tourism Minister.

The Justice Ministry has been plagued by complications in the case since it first broke in July 2006, including a failed plea bargain attempt and a draft indictment that was retracted, the Jerusalem Post reported.

Jerusalem - Almost ten years after establishing ties with the Islamic republic, Israel closed its embassy in Mauritania Friday, its Foreign Ministry announced.

A statement from the Ministry said Israel closed the representation after being requested to do so by the north-western African state's government. Ambassador Mickey Arbel is due to leave the country.

Jerusalem - A suspected Palestinian attacker was shot dead in Jerusalem on Thursday after ramming a police car with a bulldozer, local media reported.

Israeli radio said two police officers were injured in the incident, who then opened fire, killing the driver of the bulldozer.

According to a taxi driver interviewed by Israeli radio, the bulldozer attacked the car by bringing its scoop down on the vehicle.

Jerusalem, Mar 5 : Senior Islamic jihad commander Khaled Shalan was killed on Wednesday night in an Israeli Air Force missile strike on his car in Gaza.

Another member of the terror group was critically hurt in the attack on the vehicle that was traveling from Jabalya to Beit Lahiya, in northern Gaza.

According to the IDF, Shalan was responsible for the recent rocket fire on Ashkelon, The Jerusalem Post reported.