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.

Tel Aviv - Legislators of the opposition Likud party asked Israel's attorney-general Friday to examine whether interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as the head of a transitional government has the authority to continue peace negotiations with Syria.

Likud legislator Yuval Steinitz said Olmert, by conducting talks with Syria as an outgoing premier, was "trampling the principles of democracy" and endangering "Israel's most vital interests" for the sake of his own personal record.

Tel Aviv - Israeli Interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has sent a message to Syria, saying he wants to step up peace negotiations with Damascus now that it has become clear he will stay in power for a few more months, an Israeli newspaper reported Friday.

Olmert asked Turkish Defence Minister Vecdi Gonul in a meeting in Tel Aviv to convey the message to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Yediot Ahronot reported.

Olmert resigned last month from the premiership and the leadership of his ruling Kadima party to fight corruption allegations.

Jerusalem - Israeli Interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is due to meet US President George W Bush at the White House "soon," a statement issued by his office said.

Bush spoke with Olmert on the telephone Wednesday afternoon and invited the Israeli leader to Washington, the statement said.

Olmert resigned last month to fight corruption allegations, but has since continued to rule Israel at the head of a transitional government which will be in place until early elections are held on February 10.

Jerusalem - Israeli Interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert telephoned Egyptian President Hozny Mubarak Wednesday to apologize "in the name of the state of Israel" for a remark in which a hardline Israeli lawmaker told the Egyptian president to "get lost."

Tel Aviv - Israeli police late Monday arrested the Acre Arab whose drive through a Jewish neighbourhood last week on the eve of the Day of Atonement sparked fierce rioting in the mixed Arab-Jewish city in northern Israel.

Jamal Taufik was remanded in custody, Israel Radio reported, on suspicion of speeding and harming religious sensitivities.

Toufik has apologized for the incident, which occurred Wednesday night, and has denied that he blared loud music from his car as a provocation as he drove.