Army will hold its official farewell ceremony for Gabi Ashkenazi in Tel Aviv later Sunday; transition will become official on Monday.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that a new government in Egypt should seek Middle East peace and guarantee Israel's security.

The PLO leadership in Ramallah on Saturday announced plans to hold elections by September, running into immediate opposition from its Hamas rivals.

European Union leaders welcomed Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s decision to step down and called for an ''orderly and irreversible transition towards democracy and free and fair elections.''

White House press secretary: Egypt's next government must recognize agreement with Israel; Obama hails Egyptian protesters' use of non-violence.

Massive crowd in Cairo square at center of protests explodes with joy following announcement by Vice President Omar Suleiman.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou has promised to help Israel get closer ties with the European Union and gain access to European markets, in a meeting Thursday with a visiting delegation of American and Euro-Asian Jewish leaders.

Iranian President says Egypt's popular uprising shows a new Middle East is emerging, calls for Egyptians to be allowed to choose their own government; opposition leader Karroubi not allowed to rally in support of Tahrir Square protesters.

Opposition figure and Nobel Peace Prize laureate urges Egyptian military to side with the people, says too soon to say whether he will run for president.

Furious Egyptian demonstrators vowed to launch their most spectacular protest yet in Cairo on Friday after President Hosni Mubarak wrong-footed global expectations by refusing to quit office.