* Hamas TV: We have taken over the northern Gaza Strip Hamas launched a full-scale attack Tuesday afternoon against Fatah security bases and positions in Gaza.

* President warns of Hamas ‘coup’ Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has accused elements within Hamas of trying to seize power in Gaza by force.

* Sarkozy invites Hizbullah to France In a significant diplomatic shift, French President Nicolas Sarkozy will invite Hizbullah to take part in a conference on Lebanon.

* Hundreds of rightists arrive at evacuated West Bank settlement Hundreds of settlers and right-wing activists arrived at the evacuated West Bank settlement of Homesh on Tuesday.

* Ancient Rome brought back to life Ancient Rome has been brought back to life through a unique digital reconstruction project, said to be the world’s biggest computer simulation.

* EU Breaks Freeze on Funding PA The European Union has agreed to transfer 4 million euros (approximately $5 million) to the coffers of the Palestinian Authority government.

* Polls show Ami Ayalon, Ehud Barak are neck and neck Labor Party members set off for the polls across the country on Tuesday to choose between former prime minister Ehud Barak and MK Ami Ayalon to elect the party’s sixth leader in eight years.

* ‘Harassment’ mars Egyptian vote The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt has accused the authorities of harassing its candidates and committing widescale irregularities during Monday’s voting.

* Missile defence spat a diversion China believes the US system could destabilise Asia and demonstrated disapproval with a dramatic missile shoot down of a redundant Chinese space vehicle.

* 4,000 celebrate Taglit event in J’lem As the Taglit-Birthright Israel “Mega-Event” came to a close, four thousand Jewish college students from all over the world danced in the aisles of the Sultan’s Pool stadium.