Tel Aviv  - One of Israel's most emotionally-charged and complex murder investigations appeared closer to a solution Thursday when police divers retrieved from a river a suitcase thought to hold the remains of a four-year old girl missing since May.

Divers have been searching the Yarkon river, on Tel Aviv's northern outskirts, for the body Rose Pizem since the main suspect in the case, her grandfather Ronny Ron, told police he had thrown the body there.

The red suitcase was found about 500 to 600 metres from where Ron said he had thrown it into the river, and contains a small skull, bones and shred of clothing.

"It looks like what we've been searching for," one of the divers told Israel Radio.

Details of the case were only released to the public in August, after a gag order was lifted, and the investigation has gripped the nation's attention.

Ron initially confessed to the murder, and led police to the spot on the Yarkon river where he said dumped the body after placing it in a suitcase, but no trace of the corpse was found, although police continued looking and even widen the search to locations near Ron's home town of Netanya.

Ron later withdrew his confession but he and Rose's mother, Marie, were both arrested and the girl's grandmother was placed under house arrest.

The case has been called one of the most intricate in Israel's history. Rose Pizem was born in France, to French-born Marie and Benjamin, an Israeli.

During a visit to Israel, Marie fell in love with Benjamin's father, Ronny, and remained in Israel while Benjamin returned to France, taking Rose with him.

Marie and Ronny married, and in December last year were awarded custody of Rose, who came to live with them. She was however placed in the care of Ronny's mother, Viviane.

Rose has not been seen since May 12, when Ronny came to fetch her from his mother's house. (dpa)