Israel warns: free soldier or PM dies  —  Middle East correspondent Martin Chulov  —  ISRAEL last night threatened to assassinate Palestinian Prime Minister Ismael Haniyeh if Hamas militants did not release a captured Israeli soldier unharmed.  —  The unprecedented warning was delivered …

GOP Seeks Advantage In Ruling On Trials  —  National Security Is Likely Rallying Cry, Leaders Indicate  —  Republicans yesterday looked to wrest a political victory from a legal defeat in the Supreme Court, serving notice to Democrats that they must back President Bush on how to try suspects …

When Do We Publish a Secret?  —  SINCE Sept. 11, 2001, newspaper editors have faced excruciating choices in covering the government's efforts to protect the country from terrorist agents.  Each of us has, on a number of occasions, withheld information because we were convinced that publishing it could put lives at risk.

Israel defeated at UN Human Rights Council  —  With 29 countries in favor, 12 opposed, Arab countries pass decision according to which Council's inspectors will prepare special report on human rights violations committed by Israel in territories, issue will be discussed in all Council meetings

Munitions Found in Iraq Renew Debate  —  Panel Is Divided Over Whether Troops Uncovered Weapons of Mass Destruction  —  Do the 20-year-old Iraqi chemical munitions found by U.S. and coalition forces support the prewar contention that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, and justify the invasion of Iraq?

Frist: Europe missile-defense site needed  —  WASHINGTON - Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist urged President Bush on Friday to intensify efforts to put interceptor missiles at a site in Europe to protect against potential attacks from Iran.  —  "The threat from Iran is only going to grow in the years ahead.

Poll: Good News Fails to Boost Bush's Job Approval  —  In a new TIME survey, Americans say the President is performing poorly and that the country is increasingly on the wrong track  —  A spate of good news at home and abroad has so far failed to boost how Americans feel about President Bush's job performance.

Troops Facing Murder Probe  —  Atrocities Against Iraqi Family Alleged  —  BAGHDAD, June 30 — The U.S. Army is investigating allegations that American soldiers raped and killed a woman and killed three of her family members in a town south of Baghdad, then reported the incident as an insurgent attack, a military official said Friday.

G.I.'s Investigated in Slayings of 4 and Rape in Iraq  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq, June 30 — The American military is investigating accusations that soldiers raped an Iraqi woman in her home and killed her and three family members, including a child, American officials said Friday.

N.Y. JUDGE WARS: HIDDEN '06 ISSUE  —  June 30, 2006 — AT least three of the seven seats on the Court of Appeals, the state's top court, will fall open early in the term of Gov. George Pataki's successor.  So either Democrat Eliot Spitzer (or maybe Tom Suozzi) or Republican John Faso …

Two Views of Terror Suspects: Die-Hards or Dupes  —  MIAMI, June 30 — The seven men who were arrested here last week on terror charges were shown Friday on undercover videotapes solemnly reciting oaths of loyalty to Al Qaeda, repeating the words that an F.B.I. informant had given them to say.