Spain, Italy level atop group in World Cup qualifiers
Buffon reaches 1,000; sets European record with 168th cap
struck the post with a header.
But Iago Aspas teed up Isco to put the gloss on a comfortable win two minutes from time.
Defeat saw Israel slip four points behind the two Group G heavyweights with five games left to play and only the pool winners guaranteed a place at Russia 2018.
“I am very happy with my goal, but the victory is the most important thing,” said Silva. “We needed to win to stay ahead of the rest.”
In the other group game, Macedonia got their first points of the qualifying campaign with a 3-0 win at Liechtenstein, who remain pointless.
Captain Seamus Coleman suf- fered a broken leg as the Republic of Ireland and Wales drew 0-0 in Dublin in Group D.
Neil Taylor was shown a straight red card for the scything challenge that left Irish defender Coleman clutching his shattered lower leg and screaming in pain as Shane Long tried to comfort him.
“It’s been confirmed by our doctor that he’s broken his leg,” said Ireland boss Martin O’Neill. “It’s a big, big loss.”
It was a costly game for Wales who saw their captain Gareth Bale booked for a high boot on John O’Shea meaning he, like Taylor, will miss the next qualifier away to Serbia in June.
Serbia moved top of the group after coming from behind to win 3-1 in Georgia.
Nika Kacharava gave the hosts a fifth minute lead but Dusan Tadic equalized from the penalty spot on the stroke of half time.
Aleksandar Mitrovic gave Serbia the lead before Mijat Gacinovic sealed the victory late on.
Serbia now lead the Republic on goal difference with Wales and Austria, 2-0 winners over Moldova, four points behind.
Croatia went three points clear at the top of Group I with a 1-0 victory over Ukraine courtesy of Nikola Kalinic’s goal seven minutes from half time.
Iceland moved up to second with a 2-1 win at Kosovo, whose wait for a first competitive victory goes on.
Bjorn Sigurdarson gave the visitors a 25th minute lead before Gylfi Sigurdsson doubled the advantage from the spot 10 minutes later after Benjamin Kololli had brought down Birkir Saevarsson.
But seven minutes into the second period Atdhe Nuhiu headed home a Herolind Shala corner to give Kosovo a lifeline — although it was not enough.
A brace from Cenk Tosun kept Turkey’s qualifying hopes alive as they beat Finland 2-0 to stay fourth, five points off Croatia.