* Gaza hit by fresh Israeli strikes Israel has launched new air strikes on targets near Gaza City including Hamas buildings killing at least five people, four of them fighters loyal to Hamas.

* Top IDF officer: Goal of Gaza ops is to ‘make Hamas pay’ Defense Minister Amir Peretz held a security meeting on Friday afternoon with IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi.

* Brussels warns Russia on EU unity European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has told Russia that any problems it has with an individual EU state are problems with the whole bloc.

* ‘Hamas planned to assassinate Abbas’ Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas canceled a planned visit to the Gaza Strip on Thursday for fear that Hamas militiamen might attack his convoy.

* Turkey angered by Sarkozy ‘Mediterranean Union’ idea Turkey has strongly criticised a proposal, floated by France’s new president Nicolas Sarkozy, to set up a “Mediterranean Union” as an alternative to the country’s bid for full EU membership.

* Ban on J’lem Christian event upheld The Chief Rabbinate upheld a ban Thursday on Jewish participation in a Christian women’s conference in Jerusalem next week that was organized by the Knesset’s Christian Allies Caucus, due to concern that some of the organizations involved are active in missionary work.

* Hamas Increasing Terror Capabilities; Al Qaeda Joining Fray The Hamas terror organization has been increasing the number and efficiency of attacks on Israel.

* Wolfowitz to resign as World Bank chief Embattled World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz agreed to resign after weeks of controversy over his handling of a pay package for his girlfriend, a bank employee.

* Arab world in despair over Gaza Arab governments appeared at a loss Thursday over how to stop the stunning wave of bloodshed in Gaza.

* Global net censorship ‘growing’ The level of state-led censorship of the net is growing around the world, a study of so-called internet filtering by the Open Net Initiative suggests.