The Jewish congresswoman who was severely injured by a gunman in Tucson a year ago has announced that she will be leaving public life for the foreseeable future.

Gabrielle Giffords, who has held her Arizona seat since 2007, was shot in the head at close range at a political event last January. Six people lost their lives during the attack, with a further 13 left seriously injured.

A US congresswoman who was shot in the head seven months ago was cheered as she cast her first vote since the attack.

Gabrielle Giffords, a Jewish Democratic Party representative for Tucson, Arizona, was in Washington to vote on the debt-limit bill, which averted a financial disaster for the US with just hours to go.

Ms Giffords was accompanied by her astronaut husband Mark Kelly.

Three months after she was shot in the head from close range at a political event in Tucson, Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is expected be present as her astronaut husband sets of for space.

Ms Giffords was one of 20 people wounded, including six fatally, when a gunman sprayed bullets at a crowd outside of a supermarket.

The American politician and Tea Party leader, Sarah Palin, is expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem today.

Mrs Palin, who arrived in Israel on Sunday after a trip to India, is on a private visit, but her trip has fuelled speculation that she is planning her own White House bid.

Sarah Palin will meet Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in Israel this weekend for a "private visit", Israel media has reported.

The former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate is due to arrive on Sunday with her husband Todd for a two-day visit, according to Yediot Aharonot. She is also expected to meet with other right-wing Knesset members.

Sarah Palin has defended the use of the term “blood libel” in a video address last week about the media reaction to the attempted assassination of a Jewish congresswoman in Tucson, Arizona.

She told a Fox News interviewer that those “on the left” criticising her for employing the phrase, which refers to an age-old slur accusing Jews of using Christian blood for ritual purposes, had deliberately spun her statement.

The shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords has brought an outpouring of grief from her friends and colleagues within Arizona's Jewish communities.

Candlelit vigils were held outside Ms Giffords's congressional office and at local synagogues, and Jewish leaders have spoken of their anguish over the attack.

On Sunday morning, more than 150 people attended a service at Congregation Chaverim, where Ms Giffords is
a member.

Chaverim's Rabbi Stephanie Aaron officiated at the congresswoman's marriage to astronaut Captain Mark Kelly in 2007.