1 Israeli MI chief in U.S. for secret talks 2 Israeli group wins $323 M in terror suit 3 Former US secretary of state Rice to visit Israel 4 Turkey suspects bird of being Israeli spy 5 Benayoun leaving Arsenal on a high

Military Intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi made a secret visit two weeks ago to Washington and to UN headquarters in New York, where he discussed the Iranian nuclear program, the Syria crisis and Hezbollah's increasing power in Lebanon. Kochavi met in Washington with senior White House and State Department officials, as well as senior officials in the Defense Department Intelligence agency and the CIA.

An Israeli advocacy group won a $323 million judgment in a US court against Iran and Syria for supporting Palestinian militants that killed an American teenager and ten others in a 2006 bombing. The Shurat Hadin Israel Law Center was representing the family of 16-year-old Daniel Wultz of Florida, who was among 11 killed when an Islamic Jihad suicide bomber set off his explosives at a Tel Aviv restaurant six years ago. The judgement said that Iran supports the Islamic Jihad movement financially while Syria had granted the group a haven to train in its territory.

Condoleezza Rice, who was secretary of state under US president George W. Bush, will visit Israel next week to take part in a conference on home front security. Rice, whose name has been mentioned as a possible Republican vice presidential candidate for presumptive Republican candidate Mitt Romney, is scheduled to meet with President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during her stay.

Turkish authorities believe that they have found a bird used for espionage purposes by Israel. An investigation to that effect was launched in Ankara several days ago, after a farmer discovered a dead Merops Apiaster, commonly known as the European Bee-Eater, in his field. The bird had a ring reading 'Israel' on one of its legs. The bird-beak in question reportedly sported unusually large nostrils, which -- combined with the identification ring -- raised suspicions that the bird was implanted with a surveillance device and that it arrived in Turkey as part of an espionage mission.

Arsenal midfielder Yossi Benayoun, who is coming to the end of his season-long loan from Chelsea, will play his final game for Arsenal on Sunday, when the club takes on West Bromwich. According to the Arsenal website, Benayoun has been "prominent" in Arsène Wenger's first team since the beginning of April after waiting patiently for his chance following his loan move from Chelsea.

1 Palestinians Mark Nakba Day 2 Iran's order's for Hezbollah 3 Iran hangs accused Mossad agent 4 NIS 99 call plan from Golan Telecom 5 Landau okays Golan Heights oil exploration

Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as well as pro-Palestinian supporters in other Arab nations, marked "Nakba Day" on Tuesday, marking the "catastrophe" of the inception of the State of Israel. The Palestinian Authority has declared a general strike, as did the Higher Arab Monitoring Committee, which declared a strike in Israel's Arab sector. The IDF has declared high alert across all borders, and has bolstered its deployment in West Bank cities and along the Gaza border, ahead of possible confrontations.

A senior military IDF official said that Lebanon may not want a new war with Israel but a military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities would likely spark a deadly response from its ally Hezbollah. Senior military officials do not believe Nasrallah wants another war with Israel and would only attack as a direct result of orders from Tehran. They believe that Iran's aim was to create footprints near the border of Israel and Hezbollah has been the recipient of that funding.

Iranian authorities have hanged Majid Jamali Fashi who had been accused of being an agent of the Israeli spy agency, the Mossad, for the 2010 killing of a nuclear physicist. 24 year old Fashi was sentenced to death after being convicted in a trial last August. Iran says that Israel and the US are trying to disrupt its nuclear program through covert operations where at least five Iranian nuclear scientists have been killed in recent years.

Today, Golan Telecom Ltd., Israel's first new mobile carrier since 1999, launched its services. The company is offering the most aggressive prices in the mobile market, based on operations in the French market and its French backer Xavier Niel. Golan is offering an unlimited package of calls, SMS, and internet at NIS 99 per month. This could be what Israeli's have always been waiting for from a cell phone provider.

Energy and Water Minister Uzi Landau has decided to renew drilling permits to explore for oil on the Golan Heights. The decision could have far-reaching political ramifications, and those in Landau's inner circle do not deny that his political beliefs played a part in the decision. Past experience has shown that the decision to resume drilling could garner condemnation by Syria and affect future negotiations between Syria and Israel.

1 IAF prepared for any mission 2 Netanyahu's letter to Abbas 3 Deal to end hunger strike 4 Jewish pilgrims avoid Tunisia 5 Hollywood delegation to visit Israel

Outgoing IAF Chief Major-General Ido Nehushtan said on Sunday that the Israeli Air Force is well prepared for its missions. Nehushtan's statement came in response to a question which inquired about the IAF's readiness for a large military strike. The reference to Iran was clear and resonated. Nehushtan retired from the IDF this week, after 37 years in service. Maj.-Gen. Amir Eshel, Israel's new IAF chief, echoed his predecessor's sentiment upon taking office.

In a letter sent to Abbas from Prime Minister Netanyahu on Saturday night, Netanyahu wrote that the national unity government has created a new opportunity to move the peace process ahead. Netanyahu's letter was delivered to PA headquarters in Ramallah by his special envoy Isaac Molho, who met with Abbas for 90 minutes. Netanyahu added that he wants to restart negotiations as soon as possible.

Egypt has brokered a deal aimed at ending a hunger strike of some 1,600 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. The agreement included ending solitary confinement, not renewing administrative detention for detainees held without trial, releasing all prisoners who have finished their sentence, and allowing family visits and phone calls, however- no final agreement on the matter has been reached.

Security concerns and threats from some Salafi Islamists kept thousands of Jewish pilgrims away from the annual Lag B'Omer celebration on the Tunisian island of Djerba this week. No more than 500 pilgrims attended the religious festival celebrated a month after Passover at one of Africa's oldest synagogues on Wednesday and Thursday. Israel issued a travel advisory urging its citizens ahead of the festival to "avoid" visits to Tunisia this year, citing information suggesting they might come under attack.

A host of Hollywood stars are expected to arrive in Israel this coming month. The visit is being organized by the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption as part of Israel's effort to improve its image abroad. The group is expected to tour and meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as with several media personalities. The Tel Aviv International Student Film Festival, which is scheduled to open June 2, will host Sacha Baron Cohen, and Harvey Keitel to name a few- Baron Cohen's new film, "The Dictator," will open the festival.

IDF gearing up for 'Nakba Day' ; Israel's social protest coming back ? ; WWII British report: Hitler developed 'Jewish phobia ; Arab swimmer to represent Israel in EU championship ; UK campuses celebrate 'Tel Aviv week'

On Monday, the Palestinians will mark Nakba Day, recalling what they refer to as the "catastrophe" of 1948: Israel's establishment and the expulsion of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their land. The day's events will dovetail with the ongoing hunger strike of about 2,000 security prisoners in Israeli jails. The leaders of Fatah and the Palestinian Authority worked hard to ensure that the demonstrations will be confined to the Palestinian cities of the West Bank and will not assume a violent character.

Social protest is back? Thousands of Israelis gathered Saturday evening at Tel Aviv's Rabin Square for a rally activists characterized as the opening shot of a renewed nationwide social protest. Earlier in the day, demonstrators marched from various locations across the city, before meeting at the Square for the evening's main event. Some protestors attempted to block roads in the area. At least nine people were detained at the site by police. Simultaneously, rallies were being held in Haifa, Jerusalem, Kiryat Shmona and Pardes Hana.

A secret report, previously unknown to historians, has given readers insight regarding the mental state of Adolf Hitler. According to the report, which was published in the British Guardian Newspaper on Friday, in 1942, British intelligence officers were tracking Adolf Hitler's "messiah complex" and his belief that he was leading a crusade against Jewish people. The analysis of Hitler's mental state, was uncovered by a Cambridge University researcher, Scott Anthony.

Arab-Israeli swimmer Jowan Qupty will represent Israel in the European Swimming Championship. Qupty, 22, was originally denied a spot on the national team. The association claimed that Qupty did not meet the criteria required in order to participate in the championship. Finally, he won a Swimmer's Association appeal over the decision on Thursday. According to the Swimming Association, Qupty's participation in the competition depends on his achieving a better result in the 100m breaststroke than that of Imri Ganiel, who was chosen to compete in the event.

Visitors to various campuses across the UK may have been slightly surprised by the beach-side atmosphere last week. It was all due to Tel Aviv week an event organized by the Union of Jewish Students (UJS) together with the Tel Aviv municipality and the Israeli embassy in London. The tour visited five British campuses, Leeds, Hull, Nottingham, Aston (Birmingham) and Roehampton (London).

A selection of the best topics in Israel and around

1 House of Rep's pass security bill for Israel 2 Two Damascus bombings kill 40 3 Hamas foiling rocket attacks 4 Palestinian Airlines renews operations 5 Affordable housing in Tel Aviv?

On Wednesday, the US House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed bipartisan legislation that reaffirms and enhances US policy commitments to Israel's security. The United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act of 2012, which was sponsored by House Majority Leader Rep. Eric Cantor and House Minority Rep. Steny Hoyer passed by a vote of 411-2. In addition to expanding military cooperation between the two countries, the legislation states that it will be US policy to provide Israel with essential military capabilities to preserve its qualitative military edge in the region.

On Thursday, Twin bomb blasts in the Syrian capital of Damascus killed 40 people and wounded more than 170. One of the explosions hit a district that houses a well known military intelligence complex involved in Syrian President Assad's crackdown on a 14-month uprising. Thursday's explosions came a day after a bomb exploded near UN monitors observing implementation of a UN ceasefire plan and less than two weeks after Syrian authorities said a suicide bomber killed at least nine people in Damascus.

The Hamas government in Gaza is now using its authority to foil the firing efforts of cells from other organizations such as the Islamic Jihad and the Popular Resistance Committees. The new force was formed by and is under the direct command of Hamas Interior Minister Fathi Hammad, who in the past has been considered an extremist in regard to Israel. The force has a green light to shoot activists who resist arrest or fire at the Hamas soldiers and anyone arrested can expect to spend at least a couple of months in prison.

Seven years after grounding is planes, Palestinian Airlines was back in business on Wednesday, with an inaugural flight that travelled between the Egyptian town of Arish and Jordan's capital, Amman. The company was founded in 1995, and operated flights that shuttled travelers between the Dahania Airport in Rafah and various destinations in the Middle East and North Africa. The company was forced to shut down after the IDF bombed Dahania in 2001, with the start of the Al-Aqsa Intifada.

The Tel Aviv Municipality approved a NIS 54 million budget for the construction of affordable housing in the Shapira neighborhood, a disadvantaged area in south Tel Aviv. The city decided to expedite the project's construction in light of last summers protest. The project is slated to be built on a four-dunam (1-acre) plot of municipal land and consists of 69 apartments which are to be built in three buildings arranged around a yard. Each building consists of three and four room apartments, which will be about 80 square meters.

1 Knesset members criticize coalition 2 Netanyahu puts pressure on Iran 3 44,300 new jobs in March 4 Chabad's Lag Ba'omer festival 5 J-lo coming to Israel

The Knesset held a heated session on Wednesday ahead of Kadima chairman Shaul Mofaz's induction as a Coalition member. Ministers taking to the podium such as MK Binyamin Ben-Eliezer of the Labor party leveled harsh criticism at Netanyahu and Mofaz for keeping the move of their coalition a secret. Mofaz will become a minister sans portfolio as part of the coalition agreement signed between Likud and Kadima on Monday night, in a controversial move meant to avoid general elections in September.

On Wednesday, Prime minister Netanyahu, met with European Union Foreign Affairs Chief Catherine Ashton, who briefed Netanyahu on the preparations for the second round of nuclear talks with Iran. Netanyahu invited Defense Minister Barak, Foreign Minister Lieberman, and newcomer, Kadima head Mofaz to join the meeting with Ashton.

Finance Minister Steinitz presented the government with data that stated that some 44,300 new job opportunities opened in Israel in March. Steinitz added it is possible to see that over the last few years the Israeli market was creating jobs at a higher rate than the rate of employees joining the market, which may indicate that the drop in unemployment in Israel comes as a result of growth rather than a low percentage of participation in the workforce.