EU foreign policy chief and European Commission Vice President Catherine Ashton condemned Sunday's demolition of the Shepherd Hotel in east Jerusalem.

The 112th US Congress convened this week with a new Republican majority in the House of Representatives, a new speaker, John Boehner from Ohio and a series of new representatives.

Catherine Ashton stresses that 'there is no alternative to a negotiated solution'

PM meets with Egyptian president in Sharm el-Sheikh; Mubarak says Israel needs to revise its position on peace talks, settlements to reach deal with Palestinians.

The American Jewish Committee called on Israel's Knesset to reconsider its decision to form a parliamentary committee to investigate Israeli groups critical of the country's military.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday confirmed plans to visit Jordan and the Palestinian territories this month despite the postponement of his visit to Israel due to a strike action by the foreign ministry staff.

Lebanese FM urged Ban Ki-moon to prevent Israel from exploiting Lebanon's maritime wealth, but UN spokesman says it won't demarcate border.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton will arrive in the Middle East on Wednesday, where she said she intends to push forward the peace process, saying in a statement that there was ''No alternative to a negotiated deal.''

After holiday lull, Netanyahu and Tony Blair meet in J'lem; Catherine Ashton expected to hold meetings with Israeli, Palestinian leaders; Netanyahu set to meet with Hosni Mubarak in Sharm e-Sheikh.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Neyanyahu wrote President Obama urging clemency for Jonathan Pollard.