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^{Source: Copyright © 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.}

JERUSALEM – Special legal teams will defend Israeli soldiers against potential war crimes charges stemming from civilian deaths in the Gaza Strip, the prime minister said Sunday, promising the country would fully back those who fought in the three-week offensive.

The move reflected growing concerns by Israel that officers could be subject to international prosecution, despite the army's claims that Hamas militants caused the civilian casualties by staging attacks from residential areas.

"The state of Israel will fully back those who acted on its behalf," Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said. "The soldiers and commanders who were sent on missions in Gaza must know that they are safe from various tribunals."

Speaking at the weekly Cabinet meeting, Olmert said Israel's justice minister would lead a team of senior officials to coordinate the legal defense of anyone involved in the offensive.

^{Source: Copyright © 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.}

SDEROT, Israel – Sderot's open-air market is bustling for the first time in a month, thanks to newfound quiet following Israel's punishing offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Many residents of this rocket-scarred town say they see the operation against Hamas as a long-overdue military success — but also believe the good times will be short-lived.

"There is no victory here, only quiet," said Eli Asayag, 55.

Sderot is less than a mile from Gaza, a frequent target for the homemade rockets from militants there over the past eight years. Thousands have exploded in this town of 20,000, traumatizing residents and damaging many houses and businesses. Six people have been killed and a few dozen wounded.

^{Source: Copyright © 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.}

JERUSALEM – President Barack Obama's special envoy to the Middle East will come to Israel Wednesday for talks on keeping alive a fragile Gaza cease-fire and reviving Mideast negotiations, an Israeli foreign ministry official said Saturday.

It is the new administration's first direct move into Mideast peace efforts.

George J. Mitchell will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and senior Israeli officials, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because Washington has not officially announced the trip.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton introduced Mitchell in his new role Thursday. His appointment is seen as signaling a renewed push under the Obama administration for a resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict.

^{Source: Copyright © 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.}

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – Tens of thousands of children returned to schools across Gaza on Saturday after three weeks of war, playing games for some relief from the devastation and telling friends and teachers about the explosions they heard and relatives they lost.

In one classroom, signs with the names of three 14-year-old boys killed in the fighting were set on their desks — and their deskmates sat with stunned expressions next to the empty seats as the teacher encouraged the class to talk about their experiences.

"It's very hard when one used to see 30 students in class, and after what happened, I see 27," their teacher, Bassam Salha told the class at the U.N.'s Fakhoura Elementary school. "We lived three weeks in sadness. I want you students to help me to get out of the sad mood I am in now."

^{Source: Copyright © 2007 Gulfnews.com. All rights reserved.}

Dubai: Former UAE residents can still use a valid driver's licence while visiting Dubai even after having cancelled their residence visas, according to a recent landmark ruling.

The Dubai Court of Cassation issued a recent ruling which stipulates that a person can continue using his or her UAE-issued driving licence as long as it remains valid and even after having cancelled the residence visa.

"When the authorities terminate a resident's visa that does not mean that his/her driving licence is unusable as well. A driver's licence remains valid in Dubai as long as it hasn't expired. The document is considered applicable provided it was issued upon a valid residence visa," said the landmark ruling which was issued upon a traffic case that surfaced at Dubai courts recently.