(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

SECURITY/DEFENSE:

*IDF undercover unit on Wednesday night apprehended Ibrahim el-Jaber, the Hamas commander in the PA city.

*Islamic Jihad in Gaza announced truck bomb contained 4 tons of explosives.

*5pm: 2 mortar shells landed in Nachal Oz area. No injuries. 3 mortar shells landed in Kissufim area between 1-2pm. No injuries.

*One dead and 15 or so injured by IDF gunfire along Gaza border fence in Karnei Crossing area after hundreds of PA residents rioted in the area.

*2 Arab residents of the Bet Haninah area of Jerusalem on Moshe Dayan Street in Pisgat Ze’ev pelted two handicapped women with rocks while shouting “death to Jews”. The attackers were apprehended.

*It was announced that IDF and ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) arrested last member of terror cell responsible for attack on Nov. 19, 07 in which Ido Zuldan was murdered. The attack occurred between Kedumim and Karnei Shomron.

POLITICS, DOMESTIC & MORE:

*Opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu holds a press conference and calls on all parties to decide on a date for early elections.

*Fire department around the country on alert Thursday night, Lag B’Omer.

*Health Ministry on Thursday issued a warning not to drink tap water in the area of Kinneret beaches, stating water samples show the water is not potable at present.

*Israeli citizen Prof. Yechezkel Shoshani, a recognized international expert on elephants, was killed on Thursday morning at the age of 65 when a bus exploded in a terror attack in Addis Ababa. He had been working as instructor in Africa for about a decade. He was born in Tel Aviv but moved to the US a number of years ago.

*Robbers on Thursday targeted a Postal Bank in Petach Tikvah, making off with an undetermined amount of cash. There were no injuries.

*EU diplomats expressed surprise to hear of PM Olmert’s announcement on Wednesday regarding renewed negotiations between Israel and Syria.

Large forest fire on Thursday afternoon spread in Gilboa region due to heavy winds.