Prime Minister Bill English has defended New Zealand's sponsorship of a UN resolution on Israeli settlements - and has received the backing of Labour leader Andrew Little.

New Zealand needs to show Israel there is a cost of continuing war, by refusing to accept imports or Israeli visitors from the occupied territories.

The major obstacle to a Palestinian state is not settlements.

The Israel Defence Force sergeant was found guilty of shooting a 21-year-old Palestinian

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has given his first interview since his electorate office was vandalised in protest at a UN resolution against Israeli settlements.

COMMENT: It is absurd to believe Netanyahu threatened to declare war on NZ in retaliation for co-sponsoring the UN resolution against Israel, Fran O'Sullivan writes.

To the sound of 200-300 voices chanting "live, live, Israel, resolution go to Hell", Hawke's Bay pastor Nigel Woodley stood outside

Hawke's Bay protesters travel to Wellington to vent fury at UN resolution.

John Kerry, the outgoing US secretary of state, has issued a desperate final warning.

COMMENT: New Zealanders should be proud of the role their country played in getting the Security Council, after years of inaction.

US Secretary of State John Kerry says settlement growth in Israel means the prospects for a diplomatic solution are being "narrowed".

Israel's administration doesn't have any more sanctions planned for NZ after recalling ambassador Itzhak Gerberg and blocking NZ's ambassador from travelling there.

McCully was reportedly warned of a "declaration of war" if the UN Security Council passed a resolution condemning Israel's continued settlements.

COMMENT: Israel faces an international backlash but NZ has much to learn about innovation from the plucky nation, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

Israel bars Kiwi ambassador from entering the country in further fallout from the UN Security Council's resolution to condemn settlements in occupied territories.

A father in Arizona went to check on his crying toddler in the early hours of the morning and found a stranger in his house.

Watch NZH Focus: A Kiwi marathon swimmer has set a world record as part of a group who became the first people to swim across the Dead Sea.

NZ's foreign minister is making one last push to get a Security Council resolution on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The US presidential election has become an object lesson in everything that ails a country long seen as a beacon of freedom and hope.

Green MP Marama Davidson has been released by Israeli authorities in Tel Aviv and is on her way back to New Zealand.

Green MP Marama Davidson is among a group of 13 women detained by Israeli authorities while in a flotilla trying to get to Gaza.

Israel has approved 284 housing units in the West Bank, drawing a US accusation that its policies could expand settlements in an "unlimited way".

COMMENT: Concerns about the game from Iran, Russia, Israel and China may are by no means unfounded on technical grounds.

Critics on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict blame social media for violence and hate.

Israel is increasingly being seen as a role model for entrepreneurship.

COMMENT: As a small country, there are many similarities between New Zealand and Israel, a country I've been travelling around this week.

New Zealanders have great ideas but the commercialisation of them was "near zero", says Israeli entrepreneur Isaac Bentwich.

The French are pressing ahead with a multilateral Middle East peace conference, even though Israel will not be attending.