(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel 11:00PM IL)

SECURITY/DEFENSE:

*Rock throwing and firebomb attacks directed at Jewish motorists near Azzoun, in Shomron on Tuesday afternoon. No injuries.

*12 mortar shells landed in the Greater Sderot area on Tuesday morning. No injuries.

*A man in his 40s attempting to infiltrate into Israel near Philadelphi Route was shot and moderately wounded on Tuesday morning. He was transported to Beersheva’s Soroka Medical Center.

*Givati Brigade soldiers operating in Gaza on Tuesday morning were attacked with shoulder held rockets and other weaponry. No injuries.

*Exchanges of gunfire reported between Palestinian Authority security forces and gunmen who escaped from a Shechem prison. No additional information at this time.

*PM Olmert: IDF prepared for PA residents to attempt to break through Gaza border.

POLITICS, DOMESTIC & MORE:

*Jewish National Fund personnel and firefighters were busy today, Tuesday, with a number of major brush/forestry fires reported due to the sharav heat-wave.

*Abu Mazen met in Jordan with King Abdullah II ahead of the PA leader’s planned trips to Moscow and Washington.

*Tourism Ministry and Ministry of Industry & Trade employees to join expanding government workers’ strike on Wednesday.

*MDA: 159 people injured in 144 vehicular accidents in the past 24 hours. Two sustained serious injuries, six moderate and the remainder light.

*State calling for 7-year prison sentence for Shas Party MK Benizri, who was recently found guilty on bribery and fraud charges.

*Bodyguards assigned to MK Effie Eitam following his speech calling for the expulsion of Arabs from Israel.