Jerusalem - Take a successful high-tech entrepreneur. Add the scion of a prominent ultra-Orthodox family. Throw in a Russian billionaire who barely speaks Hebrew, and a pub owner whose campaign symbol is a marijuana leaf. Welcome to the Jerusalem mayoral contest.

Jerusalem - Israel's government approved Sunday the appointment of the country's former chief rabbi, Yisrael Meir Lau, as chairman of the Council of the Yad Vashem Holocaust Centre.

Lau, a Holocaust survivor, succeeds Yosef Lapid, a fellow holocaust survivor and former minister of justice who died in June this year, as chairman of the council, an honorary body of 120 people, which meets once a year.

Jerusalem- Israeli fraud squad detectives questioned caretaker Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Friday for the ninth time in recent weeks regarding corruption affairs in which the premier is suspected of being involved.

Israeli media reported that the two-hour session at Olmert's Jerusalem residence focused on allegations that he double-, and even triple-, billed sponsors for overseas visits, and used the extra money to pay for trips for his family.

Jerusalem  - Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Ehud Olmert congratulated president-elect Barack Obama Wednesday on his "historic victory," saying the "special" relationship between Washington and Israel would not only continue but even strengthen during his time in office.

"America proved once again that it is indeed the greatest democracy, which presents an example to all other democracies in the world. President-elect Obama proved his abilities and leadership to the entire world," Olmert said in a statement from his office.

Jerusalem - The hardline opposition Likud party submitted a bill to parliament Monday, which if passed would make it illegal for any Israeli transitional government to conduct peace talks and give up territory.

The bill is another effort by the party to block attempts by Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to negotiate a peace treaty with the Palestinians and Syria during his final months in office at the head of a transitional government.

Likud legislator Limor Livnat also petitioned to Israel's Supreme Court of Justice, demanding that the court order Olmert to end his negotiations with Syria and the Palestinians immediately, Israel Radio reported.

Jerusalem - Lawmakers from four different ultra-natiolist and religious parties joined forces Monday to present a new united list which they hope will attract votes from much of the right-wing public in Israel, including settlers and their supporters.

The new far-right party, which does not have a name yet, hopes that by uniting it will draw votes away from the hardline, but more mainstream Likud party of former premier Benjamin Netanyahu.

The four smaller parties which are joining forces are the National Religious Party (NRP), Tkuma, Moledet and Ahi.

They all vehemently oppose the Oslo peace process with the Palestinians, which launched in 1993 calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza.