The government is considering legalizing a settlement for the first time since 1996, and, by doing so, might violate its promise to the US not to create any new Jewish West Bank communities, according to information provided in the state’s response on Sunday to a petition regarding the Derech Ha’avot outpost in Gush Etzion.

The lawyer of Meir Rabin, the main suspect in the Holyland corruption affair, said Monday that his client was questioned in the past few days on suspicion of transferring money to Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Shas' spiritual leader, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, together with the state witness in the affair.

Wanted Hamas terrorist Ali Ismail Ahmed Sweiti was killed on Monday morning in an exchange of fire with security forces in the village of Beit Awa, southwest of Hebron.

Hamas released a cartoon video showing captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit returning to Israel in a coffin.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s key coalition partners seemed to give a tacit nod Thursday to the possibility of a building freeze within Jerusalem itself, despite a reiteration by Netanyahu that no such freeze would be enacted.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected an Obama administration call for a total construction freeze in eastern Jerusalem, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is in good health, his spokesman said following reports that he is seriously ill.

Two more suspects were arrested in Israel's Holyland real estate scandal.

The army has drawn up plans to withdraw to pre-intifada lines in the West Bank, if ordered to do so by the government, The Jerusalem Post has learned.

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Tuesday that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the State of Israel and that it will never be divided - "neither directly nor indirectly."