Tel Aviv, April 14, SPA -- Israel is closing a government officecharged with monitoring the Iranian nuclear threat, lessthan 18 months after it was created, the Associated Press reported. The decision is a tacit admission that the StrategicAffairs Ministry served little purpose other than providinga Cabinet post for one of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert'sformer political allies. Government spokesman Mark Regev said Monday the ministry'sfunctions would pass to other government departments. Regevsaid the closure would not affect Israel's security.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/546038