New York  - The United Nations Security Council was urged Tuesday to take on the burden of solving the conflict in the Gaza Strip to make way for reconstruction and relief efforts.

The head of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which cares for millions of uprooted Palestinians, told the council that the challenges it faces go beyond the humanitarian realm.

"They lie in the province of political action," Karen AbuZayd said. "For this reason, it is on this council and its esteemed members that part of the burden of restoring normalcy to Gaza rests."

Beirut  - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Monday that Israel is not serious about achieving peace in the region at this time, but expressed hope for the future.

"It was obvious that Israel only understands the language of force," Assad said, adding that the Jewish state was not serious about the peace negotiations.

In an exclusive interview with Hezbollah-run television al-Manar, Assad said he sees "hope for compromises in the region and not wars" in the future.

Cairo - Egyptians from across the political spectrum say they are greeting news of US special envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell's planned arrival in Cairo on Tuesday evening with a mixture of skepticism and surprise.

Few here or indeed across the Arab world expected US President Barack Obama to make the Israeli-Palestinian conflict one of his first foreign policy priorities. But fewer still expect any real change in US policy on the issue.

Ankara  - Five US Jewish groups have expressed their concern over a rise in anti-Semitic events in Turkey in reaction to Israeli military operations in Gaza, penning a letter to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan urging him to take action, Turkish media reported Friday.

Jerusalem  - Israel is preparing for the possibility that Israeli political and military officials will be taken to court in foreign countries by activists accusing them of having committed war crimes in Gaza.

Transitional Prime Minister Ehud Olmert appointed Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann as the head of an inter-ministerial team which is to prepare for any such accusations.