Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of "encouraging terror".

Two Israelis have been killed and three injured in separate attacks in Jerusalem by Palestinians who were then shot dead by police.

ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems close to ordering a general mobilization of his country's military, and Republicans in the United States are preparing for a ferocious battle with President Barack Obama's administration, in the wake of the framework nuclear agreement with Iran.

Voting is under way in Israel in what is expected to be a close race between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's party and a centre-left alliance.