* Israelis edge into urban Gaza Israeli forces are moving slowly into Gaza’s most densely populated areas, reports say, as they continue air and ground attacks on Hamas militants.

* Bush: Hamas must stop rocket fire if it wants Gaza truce President Bush gave his last press conference at the White House, calling for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, but emphasizing Israel’s right to defend itself.

* IDF has killed 400 Hamas operatives According to an army estimate, slightly over 900 Palestinians have been killed since Operation Cast Lead began.

* Blair reappears on shortlist to head EU Tony Blair, the former UK prime minister, is re-emerging as a possible choice to be the European Union’s first full-time president.

* Jordan under Pressure as Israel Presses on in Gaza Jordan has been equally strident in its condemnation of Israel’s attack on Gaza on the popular and official levels.

* Arab parties disqualified from elections Central Elections Committee determines Balad, United Arab List-Ta’al parties ineligible to run in February 2009, on grounds that they don’t recognize the state and call for armed conflict against it.

* Peres says IDF achieving ‘remarkable’ results in Gaza ‘Israel has never had an army that was better trained, organized and sophisticated,’ president tells reservists in Zeelim.

* European cities fill with protests against Gaza war Hundreds of thousands marched in cities across Europe to protest Israel’s war on Gaza in the biggest pan-European demonstrations since those against the Iraq war in 2003.

* EU still waiting for Russian gas Russia has not yet resumed gas exports via Ukraine despite a weekend of frantic diplomacy by the Czech EU presidency.

* Irish poll shows majority support for Lisbon Treaty A new poll suggests that a majority of Irish voters may back the Lisbon Treaty in a second referendum set to be held this year.