Barbra Streisand is to entertain Israeli soldiers for an evening next week.

The globally celebrated star will perform at a gala dinner organised by friends of the IDF in Los Angeles on December 8.

Among the more than 1,000 guests will be the former IDF chief of staff, Gabi Ashkenazi, and Seinfeld actor Jason Alexander.

Although Ms Streisand, 69, is known for her support of Israeli and Jewish causes.

In 2008 she pulled out of a Jerusalem concert celebrating Israel's 60th birthday where she was due to sing the Avinu Malkeinu prayer, citing personal reasons, although there was speculation that it was because President George W Bush was on the guest list.