JERUSALEM (AFP) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy urged Israel on Monday to halt its war in Gaza, but was rebuffed by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who rejected any truce that fails to end the Islamist group's rocket attacks on Israel.Israel's self-defeating Gaza offensive Financial TimesMerkel: Cease-fire only when Israel's security gua... (news.google.com)

GAZA CITY (AFP) - Israeli troops tightened their military grip on Gaza with new air and ground attacks that claimed more than 20 more lives on Monday, while the Israeli government rejected European-led calls for an immediate ceasefire. (www.afp.com)