Russia warned Iran on Tuesday to allay growing international fears over its contentious nuclear program, declaring that the Western push for fresh and harsh sanctions could not be excluded.

Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Tuesday that the US, Russia and France have written a new letter to the IAEA.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Monday asked Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to tell Hamas that Israel will not sweeten its offer for kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit.

Fatah and Hamas are trading accusations following the arrest of two Palestinians extradited from Jordan to Dubai on suspicion of involvement in the assassination of Hamas senior Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in January, Army Radio reported.

Vice President Joe Biden will travel to Israel and areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority.

On the eve of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Moscow, senior Russian security officials were speaking out on defense-related issues that have provoked tensions between the two countries.

The United States should break Israel's blockade of Gaza and deliver badly needed supplies by sea, a U.S. congressman told Gaza students.

Hamas political leader Khaled Meshal warned earlier Friday that should another war erupt with Israel, the majority of battles would not be contained to the Gaza Strip as they were during the conflict last winter.

Amid expectations that US-mediated “proximity talks” between Israel and the Palestinian Authority will begin within a few weeks, Jerusalem is hosting a parade of top aides to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who are holding meetings far from the public eye.

The Israeli ambassador to Washington says his dispute with J Street is close to resolution and that the group was "much more in the mainstream."