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JERUSALEM (JTA) — The Knesset this week killed an opposition proposal for a special state inquiry into the Bar-On affair.

Israel's attorney general last week said there was not enough evidence to act on police recommendations to indict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Justice Minister Tzachi Hanegbi, despite improprieties in the short-lived January appointment of Roni Bar-On as attorney general.

Only Shas Knesset member Aryeh Deri, who allegedly pushed for Bar-On's appointment in order to get a plea bargain in his corruption trial, is to be indicted.

Opposition members said this week that a state commission of inquiry should investigate the affair's ethical and moral questions.

Meanwhile, Deputy Finance Minister David Magen became the first government official to resign in the wake of the attorney general's findings.

Israel eases closure on Palestinian areas

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel on Wednesday lifted a closure it had imposed on the West Bank and Gaza Strip before Passover.

Israeli authorities allowed into Israel some 55,000 Palestinian workers, who must be married and older than 30.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told CNN that Israel had decided to lift the closure despite ongoing security dangers because "we want to ease up on the economic hardships" facing the Palestinians despite ongoing tensions.

In a sign of those tensions, a Palestinian was killed north of Jerusalem on Wednesday when Israeli police opened fire on the car in which he was traveling after the driver ignored their orders to stop.

On Sunday Israeli troops shot and killed an 18-year-old in rioting near the West Bank city of Hebron.

Israeli air force pilot to join NASA launch

JERUSALEM (JTA) — A 40-year-old combat pilot has been chosen to become the first Israeli to travel on a NASA space shuttle mission.

The pilot, who under army regulations cannot be named, was identified as an F-16 pilot and trained electrical engineer.

If approved by NASA, he would join the space shuttle crew on a mission next year.

Abi Har Even, the director of Israel's space agency, said the pilot would serve as the mission's "payload specialist," overseeing a space experiment Israel has yet to propose and finance.