For two decades, the parcel of land known as E-1 has become a symbol for all sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For the Israeli right, E-1 is a vital neighbourhood in Greater Jerusalem that must be built to stop illegal Arab building around the eternal capital of the Jewish people.

Shas, Israel’s religious Sephardi party, has announced its official list for the upcoming Knesset elections.

Interior Minister Eli Yishai was awarded top spot by the party’s Council of Torah Sages.

Aryeh Deri came second and Ariel Attias won third place.

In an interview with Ynet on Wednesday, Mr Deri denied that he was running for the top position.

The former leader of Israel’s Labour party Amir Peretz has left Labour and joined Tzipi Livni’s new centre-left Hatnuah party, just hours before the deadline for registering candidates for January’s elections.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the United Nations “completely ignored Israel’s security needs” when it granted Palestine non-member status.

Mr Netanyahu made the statement during a diplomatic visit to Prague on Wednesday, in which he thanked the Czech Republic for voting against the Palestinian UN bid.

Films made by Israelis and Palestinians have been named among the contenders in the best documentary category for the 2013 Academy Awards.

The Gatekeepers, directed by Israeli Dror Moreh tells the history of Israel through the stories of six former directors of Shin Bet, Israel’s security service.

Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon is the latest victim of the Yisrael Beitenu political reshuffle.

Party chairman Avigdor Lieberman, Israel's foreign minister, announced that Mr Ayalon would not form part of the next Knesset list for the January election.

The decision comes after two controversial party figures announced that they would also leave politics.