Tel Aviv - Israel pulled the last of its soldiers out the Gaza Strip early Wednesday morning, over two and a half weeks since they were sent in as part of an intense Israeli operation against militants in the salient, a military spokesman in Tel Aviv said.

The spokesman would not give further details about the withdrawal.

Israeli troops began pulling out the Strip on Sunday evening, hours after Israel announced a unilateral ceasefire, ending its three-week-long Operation Cast Lead.

The operation, launched in response to massive rocket salvos from the salient on population centres in southern Israel, began on December 27 with a week of intense airstrikes.

Ground forces crossed into the Strip on the evening of January 3.

Betah Tikva, Israel  - An Israeli municipality is going to the dogs, literally, in an attempt to crack down on a problem common to every location with a large canine population.

Dr Tika Bar-On, Chief Veterinarian of the city of Petah Tikva, east of Tel Aviv, is setting up a DNA data-base of dogs, which she hopes will help the city track down poop-scoop offenders.

Gaza- The Islamic movement Hamas said Saturday it wants the formation of a national unity government to settle the political crisis which has divided Palestinians.

"Hamas favours a national coalition that can defend the Palestinian people and their rights," said Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoom in Gaza.

Barhoom's remarks indicate Hamas is opposed to the idea of a government made up of technocrats that do not include members of the two largest Palestinian groups -
Hamas and the Fatah movement of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Gaza City - Palestinians and international activists plan to challenge Israeli's blockade of the Gaza Strip by navigating a small sailing ship into the Israeli-controlled waters off the Gaza Strip, organizers said Monday.

The vessel is to set sail for Gaza from Cyprus on August 5, according to a statement by the US-based Free Gaza Movement, which is organizing the action along with the pro-Palestinian International Solidarity Movement (ISM) and the US-based Free Gaza Movement.

The activists expect to confront Israeli naval patrol boats when they reach Gaza waters.

Gaza  - Hamas officials in the Gaza Strip Monday said former British prime minister Tony Blair would visit the enclave the following day but would not meet with members of the Islamic movement.

Ismail Radwan and Ahmed Yousef, two senior members of Hamas, said Blair, who is currently the representative of the Mideast Quartet - made up of the United States, European Union, Russia and the United Nation - would be provided security by the police forces of their movement.

Hamas took over Gaza last summer, ousting forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of the rival Fatah party.

Gaza - A Hamas delegation was due to head for Yemen on Saturday to discuss proposals for Palestinian reconciliation put forward by President Ali Abdullah Saleh, a Hamas spokesman said.

Saleh's initiative calls on Hamas to relinquish control of the Gaza Strip, which the militant movement seized after routing the forces of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in June 2007.

The delegation comprises Hamas' politburo chief Khaled Mashaal, his deputy, Moussa Abu Marzouq, and a former Hamas interior minister, Said Siam.