Jerusalem - Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu is returning to the Israeli premiership exactly one decade after he was voted out of what has been described as one of the world's most difficult jobs.

His first term between 1996 to 1999 - when he lost elections to Labour Party leader Ehud Barak, now a key coalition partner - saw a pronounced slowdown in the implementation of the Israeli-Palestinian Oslo peace accords, a process Netanyahu did not support.

Jerusalem  - The new Israeli government will hold negotiations with the Palestinian Authority in order to reach a permanent peace agreement, incoming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday.

Addressing the Knesset as he presented his new government and its guidelines, Netanyahu said he would hold peace talks with the Palestinians on three levels: economic, diplomatic and security. "This joint path is the right path to peace," he declared.

Jerusalem  - Completing a period of intense coalition negotiations, Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu was set to present his government Tuesday afternoon, seven weeks after Israel's elections.

Netanyahu formally requested the Knesset, Israel's parliament, to hold a special session and swear in the new government.

The session was scheduled to start at 5 pm (1400 GMT).

Jerusalem  - Israel's outgoing cabinet voted Sunday to accept recommendations to worsen conditions for Hamas members in Israeli jails, in an effort to pressure the Islamist organization over the release of an Israeli soldier held in the Gaza Strip since June 2006.

The sanctions, to go into effect in the near future, include limiting family visits and revoking the opportunity for prisoners to take high school matriculation exams or study at the open university.

Access to radio and television will also be limited.

Jerusalem - Israel's outgoing cabinet met Sunday to debate proposals to worsen conditions for Hamas members held in Israeli jails, in an effort to pressure the Islamic organization over the release of an Israeli soldier held in the Gaza Strip since June 2006.

Justice Minister Daniel Friedman, who chaired a committee which formulated the proposals, said Israel would abide by "both international and local law."

He told Israel Radio that while Israel would not prevent the prisoners from receiving visits from the Red Cross, some of their benefits would be restricted.

Jerusalem - Citing lack of evidence, Israeli police said Thursday they were closing a corruption investigation against outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, under which he was alleged to have bought a house at a significant discount in return for extending favours to the contractor.

The premier however faces indictment on three other corruption allegations.