JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel on Thursday transferred to Palestinian authorities the bodies of dozens of Palestinian militants whose attacks killed hundreds of Israelis, saying it hoped the move would help restart peace efforts.

The militants had been buried, some for decades, in a desolate Israeli military cemetery for “enemy combatants” in the occupied West Bank. They included more than 20 suicide bombers who killed more than 200 Israelis in attacks from 1995 to 2006.

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel expressed deep suspicion on Tuesday about an expected deal between the U.N. nuclear agency and Iran, suggesting Tehran’s aim was to wriggle out of sanctions rather than make real concessions ahead of wider atomic talks with world powers.

“Iran has proven over the years its lack of credibility, its dishonesty. Telling the truth is not its strong side and therefore we have to be suspicious of them all the time and examine the agreement that is being formulated,” Civil Defense Minister Matan Vilnai said on Israel Radio.

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel eyed with suspicion on Tuesday an expected deal between the U.N. nuclear watchdog and Iran on investigating Tehran’s nuclear activity, citing an Iranian track record of evading and limiting international inspections.

“Iran has proven over the years its lack of credibility, its dishonesty — telling the truth is not its strong side — and therefore we have to be suspicious of them all the time, and examine the agreement that is being formulated,” Civil Defense Minister Matan Vilnai said on Israel Radio.

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel’s opposition chief Shaul Mofaz is no stranger to drama: in 1976 he helped lead the commando rescue of airline passengers held by Palestinian hijackers in Entebbe, Uganda.

But the political guile he showed on Monday night, when he saved his party from electoral humiliation and pushed the door to peace talks with the Palestinians ajar, stunned an Israeli public uninspired by his two-month-old leadership of the party.

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would win an election were it held now, an opinion poll showed on Monday, as he weighs his strategy towards Iran’s nuclear program and speculation grows that he will seek a renewed public mandate.

The next parliamentary election in Israel is not due until October 2013, but Netanyahu signaled on Sunday he was considering moving up the ballot.

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel’s military chief said he does not believe Iran will decide to build an atomic bomb and called its leaders “very rational” – comments that clashed with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s assessment.

Lieutenant-General Benny Gantz’s remarks, in an interview published on Wednesday in the left-wing Haaretz newspaper, drew little attention in Israel on its annual remembrance day for fallen soldiers, when political discourse is suspended.

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel’s military chief said he does not believe Iran will decide to produce an atomic bomb, describing its leadership as “very rational” in an interview published on Wednesday.

Lieutenant-General Benny Gantz’s characterization of Iran’s rulers appeared to be at odds with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s oft-stated warnings that Islamic leaders could opt to use nuclear weapons even at the risk of devastating retaliation.

JERUSALEM, April 14 (Reuters) – Israel moved to block an
influx of pro-Palestinian activists planning to visit the
occupied West Bank, drafting a letter from the Prime Minister’s
Office suggesting they focus instead on “real problems” in the
Middle East, officials said on Saturday.

Some 1,200 Palestinian supporters throughout Europe have
bought plane tickets for an April 15 visit to the West Bank as
part of a campaign called “Welcome to Palestine”.