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

SECURITY/DEFENSE:

*A Kassam rocket landed near Nachal Oz late Thursday afternoon. No injuries.

POLITICS, DOMESTIC & MORE:

*Former police chief, Shlomo Aaronishki was lightly injured in an Independence Day vehicular accident when his car flipped over near the Modi’in Cemetery. Two others in the vehicle were also injured. Hatzolah and MDA Ayalon District personnel responded.

*Hundreds of people on Thursday took part in a Galilee “Nakba” event including Arab MK Mohammad Barakeh. The “Nakba” is the Arab “Disaster”, referring to the creation of the State of Israel.

*HaRav Mordechai [Tzemach ben Mazel Tov] Eliyahu Shlita is showing signs of improvement following a cardiac bypass and it is hoped that he will be released from Shaare Tzedek Medical Center for Shabbos. He was hospitalized almost two weeks ago after suffering a major heart attack.

*Some 2,000+ people were on hand for Independence Day festivities in the Shomron community of Migron, in the Benjamin Regional Council district near Psagot. Migron is slated for removal by the Olmert administration and the holiday event was a solidarity issue for supporters. The community was founded in 2002 and is currently home to about 40 families.

*5 injured by gunfire at Tel Arad Junction on Thursday afternoon. Two are in moderate condition and three light. The shooting appears to be criminal, and not a terror attack.

*Olmert tells Paris Match Magazine that Israel is ready for peace talks with Syria.

*A pedestrian was struck by a vehicle and seriously injured in the Ein Geidi parking lot on Thursday evening.

*Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told his state-run IRNA news agency “The existence of the Zionist entity is questioned and it is heading for destruction.”

*An Israeli cyclone reported as missing in the Burma cyclone is reported to be unharmed.

*Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah: The government of Lebanon has declared war against Hizbullah.