Xinhua Middle East news summary at 2200 GMT, Jan. 3

DAMASCUS -- Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad said Wednesday that the enemies of Syria have moved their battle into Iran after failing to achieve their schemes in Syria, according to state news agency SANA.

Referring to the alliance of Iran, Hezbollah and Syria, Mekdad told a visiting Iranian parliamentarian delegation that the victories of the "axis of resistance" in Syria against the terror groups have foiled the foreign schemes in Syria. (Syria-Iran)

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JERUSALEM -- Israel's parliament on Wednesday gave a preliminary approval for a bill allowing the death penalty for Palestinian attackers.

Following a heated debate, the bill passed a preliminary reading with a narrow majority of 52-49 vote. The bill still needs to pass three more full rounds of votes before it could become a law. (Israel-Bill)

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JERUSALEM -- A rocket fired by Gaza militants exploded in southern Israel on Wednesday afternoon, causing no injuries or damage, in a second such incident within an hour's time.

A military statement said the rocket hit an open field in the Eshkol Regional Council in the Negev Desert, where a similar projectile fell about an hour earlier. (Israel-Gaza)

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TEHRAN -- Iran on Wednesday called on Telegram management to block terrorist channels so as to curb spread of unrest in the country, Iran Daily reported.

Minister of communications and information technology of Iran said Wednesday that following the recent violent protests in the country the government has called on Telegram management to block terrorist channels, said the report. (Iran-Telegram) Enditem