Tel Aviv  - Unknown gunmen in Syria opened fire on a group of Israeli military engineers on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, an Israeli military spokesman said.

He said a group of army sappers were working on the border fence with Syria when several bullets were fired at them. There were no injuries, but slight damage was caused to a vehicle.

Israel has lodged a complaint with the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDORF), the spokesman said.

Israel's border with Syria on the Golan, which the Israeli army captured in the 1967 Middle East War, is generally quiet, with few cross-border incidents reported.

Madrid  - Tens of thousands of people demonstrated Sunday in various Spanish cities to protest against the Israeli military incursion in the Gaza Strip.

London  - A number of prominent British Jews published an open letter Sunday expressing their "horror" at the Gaza conflict and calling on the Israeli government to stop its military campaign.

In the letter in The Observer newspaper, the 11 signatories said they were writing "as profound and passionate supporters of Israel. We look upon the increasing loss of life on both sides of the Gaza conflict with horror."

Among the signatories were Baroness Julia Neuberger, former Local Government Association chairman Sir Jeremy Beecham and Dr Tony Bayfield, the head of the Movement for Reform Judaism.

Frankfurt  - Thousands of people attended demonstrations organized by pro-Israel groups in several German cities on Sunday against the Islamic extremist group Hamas.

The rallies generally began with a minute of silence for both Israelis and Palestinians killed during the long-running conflict.

Around 1,500 people gathering in the central German city of Frankfurt for a three-hour demonstration. They were opposed by about 100 supporters of the Palestinian Liberation Organization holding a counter-demonstration. Police said there was no violence.

Among the speakers at the Frankfurt demonstration was a former deputy chairman of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Michel Friedman.

Cairo  - A Turkish delegation arrived in Cairo on Sunday to discuss an Egyptian initiative seeking a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip at the invitation of Egyptian Presidnet Hosny Mubarak.

The Turkish delegation, led by Ahmet Davutoglu, chief foreign policy advisor to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is joining talks between Egypt and Hamas.

Hamas had sent a delegation from Gaza to Cairo for talks.

Last week, Mubarak announced a plan including an immediate ceasefire by Israel and Palestinian factions so that aid could reach civilians.

The initiative also foresees the involvement of international forces and mechanisms to prevent future conflicts such as controlling the borders and easing the blockade of Gaza.

Frankfurt  - Around 1,500 people gathering in the western German city of Frankfurt on Sunday to to demonstrate in support of Israel against Islamic extremist group Hamas.