An Israeli military unit advanced on Thursday towards al-Wazzani river on the southern border raising alert among Lebanese troops and peacekeepers, the state-run National News Agency reported.

NNA said the 20-member unit was backed by a Merkava tank for monitoring.

Israel's national watchdog Wednesday published a damning report on the conduct of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government during a housing crisis, just as the premier seeks re-election.

It came a week after State Comptroller Joseph Shapira officially rebuked Netanyahu over excessive spending on running his private and public residences in a separate report ahead of the March 17 snap vote.

South Africa has launched an investigation into the leak of espionage secrets to an international television news channel and a British newspaper, the state security minister said Wednesday.

"A full investigation has been launched into the purported leakage," Minister David Mahlobo said in a statement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a proposed meeting with U.S. Senate Democrats during his upcoming Washington visit, saying it would fuel "mis-perception of partisanship" over his planned address to Congress.

Netanyahu's decline, confirmed in a letter to Senators Dick Durbin and Dianne Feinstein seen by AFP, cast further attention Wednesday on an already contentious visit by the Israeli leader that has severely strained ties with President Barack Obama's administration.

As politicians intensify their campaigning for Israeli snap elections, an equally ferocious battle is playing out between two media tycoons -- a friend and a foe of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In one corner is Jewish-American billionaire Sheldon Adelson, who has effectively given Netanyahu a free rein to use his Israel HaYom newspaper for electioneering ahead of the March polls.

Israel's Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that a far-right party could distribute controversial copies of Charlie Hebdo as part of its campaign ahead of a March 17 general election.

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beitenu party had already displayed copies of the French satirical magazine that featured an image of the Muslim Prophet Mohammed at a publicity stunt in Tel Aviv earlier this month.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's acceptance of an invitation to address the U.S. Congress, without the blessing of the White House, is destructive to U.S.-Israeli ties, a senior official said Tuesday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday he would do "everything I can" to prevent a nuclear deal between world powers and Iran, a week ahead of traveling to Washington.

Netanyahu's government has always opposed a deal with Tehran over its nuclear program, and he is to address the U.S. Congress on March 3 on the subject, in a move that has angered the White House.

The Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc condemned on Tuesday the ongoing vacuum in the presidency, saying that political factions should prioritize overcoming obstacles that are thwarting the presidential elections.

It said in a statement after its weekly meeting: “Those hindering the election are indirectly contributing to the growth of extremist and terrorist groups.”

The Palestinians may be turning to the international courts to advance their bid for statehood but they have lost a first battle in the U.S. courts that could cost them dearly.

Monday's U.S. ruling was hailed by Israel as a "moral victory", with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying it showed the "hypocrisy" of the Palestinian attempt to join the International Criminal Court to sue Israel for alleged war crimes.