News Brief05:00 AM

(IsraelNN.com) A three-judge court sentenced former Justice Minister Haim Ramon (Kadima) to 120 hours of public service and ordered him to pay a fine of 15,000 shekels ($3,600) to a female soldier whom he kissed against her will. The court also ruled that there was no moral disgrace in his act, meaning that he will not be barred from serving in public positions.

--Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is losing support by appearing to be allied with the Bush administration, according to a report in TIME magazine. "It's not a secret that anti-U.S. feeling within Fatah is increasing, and Abbas is ignoring this," according to a PA Central Committee member's quote by the news weekly.