The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said an Israeli strike on Gaza's only Catholic church killed two people on Thursday, as Israel said it "never targets" religious sites and was investigating what happened.

The head of an Israeli parliamentary committee told the Finance Ministry on Thursday to come up with a compensation plan by next week for Israelis stranded abroad during last month's war with Iran or the panel would impose one.

For weeks, Israel has engaged in back-channel talks over a diplomatic agreement with the Syrian government. Its strikes on Damascus this week highlight a lack of strategic clarity.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee publicly condemned Ireland as its Parliament debated legislation to ban the import of goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, labeling it an act of "diplomatic intoxication."

JERUSALEM - Israeli authorities have charged a soldier with spying for Iran in exchange for money, the police and security agency Shin Bet said in a statement on Thursday. Read more at straitstimes.com.

An Israeli ultra-Orthodox party has announced plans to leave Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government.