Free Republic

Putting illegal entrants in jail would be “undemocratic,” MK Dov Henin of the extreme-left Hadash party said Wednesday. “I was very sorry to hear what the Minister of the Interior said… We need to deal harshly with criminals, but we also need to provide solutions for those who aren’t criminals,” he said. Minister of the Interior Eli Yishai proposed putting all illegal entrants in detention facilities or prisons to await deportation after being giving a monetary grant. Refugees who fear persecution should be allowed to remain in Israel...

Serena Williams has made it back-to-back Australian Open crowns after defeating Belgian comeback queen Justine Henin in the women’s singles final at Melbourne Park on Saturday night. Williams, the top seed, took her fifth Australian Open singles title with the 6-4 3-6 6-2 victory over former world No.1 Henin, who was playing her first major in 20 months after retiring in 2008. The victory is the 12th Grand Slam singles title of Williams’ career, and the American now equals compatriot Billie Jean King in sixth place on the all-time women’s Grand Slam singles title list.

LIMELETTE, Belgium (AP) — Justine Henin retired from tennis Wednesday, an abrupt ending to a short and successful career in which she won seven Grand Slam singles titles and leaves while ranked No. 1. The 25-year-old Belgian made the surprising announcement at a news conference, less than two weeks before the start of the French Open. She has won that clay-court major championship four times, including each of the past three years. "This is the end of a child's dream," said Henin, the first woman to retire from tennis while atop the WTA rankings. "This is a definitive decision. Those...