The Palestinian question had been the thorn in the side of Arab states that wished to forge economic, military and political alliances with Israel.

Tunisia's Ons Jabeur lifted the spirits of an entire continent as she became the first Arab and first African woman to reach the Wimbledon final with a rousing 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 victory over her barbecue buddy Tatjana Maria on Thursday.

Germany sends an increasing number of migrants back to Austria every day since the beginning of the month, Austrian police say.

"A breeding ground for violence" the mayor of Molenbeek called her town, speaking of unemployment and overcrowding among Arab immigrant families, of youthful despair finding refuge in radical Islam.

Israeli forces have begun a major security operation in Arab areas of occupied East Jerusalem, after a surge in attacks by Palestinians.

Two Nepalese maids have accused a Saudi diplomat of rape and torture while they were working in his home outside the Indian capital.

The Israeli defence ministry says that two Israelis, including an Arab, were being held captive in the Gaza Strip, accusing Hamas of holding one of them.

Saudi shells hit an international humanitarian aid office in northern Yemen, killing five Ethiopian refugees and wounding ten, a local official says.