(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

SECURITY/DEFENSE:

*The Color Red rocket warning system sounded early Sunday morning, apparently due to an explosion in northern Gaza. Residents shortly after hearing the siren realized it was a false alarm on day 3 of the ceasefire.

*IDF soldiers involved in counter-terror efforts throughout Yehuda and Shomron on motzei Shabbos arrested four suspects who were handed over to the ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet). There were no injuries reported among soldiers.

*A PA resident found with a knife among his tools at the Beit Fouriq Checkpoint near Shechem was taken into custody by soldiers.

POLITICS, DOMESTIC & MORE:

*The Supreme Court on Sunday night issued a restraining order preventing the opening of Gaza crossings or any change in the current status quo until Monday at 12:00PM to permit Noam Shalit to meet with Defense Ministry senior official Amos Gilad.

*Mossad Intelligence Director Meir Dagan’s tenure has been extended to the end of 2009.

*PM Olmert threatening to fire Labor Party ministers voting in favor of the bill to dissolve the current government. The bill is scheduled for a vote on Wednesday.

*After 10 weeks of sanctions, state-employed social workers on Sunday stepped up sanctions by closing offices, no longer providing any services.

*Hamas has obtained state-of-the-art cellular phones from Taiwan at the cost of $2,000 each, which according to an Army Radio report prevent Israel from eavesdropping in on conversations.

*Postal Authority sanctions continue on Sunday which includes a cessation of services to mobile post locations and a cessation of some other services such as permitting clients to move from one HMO to another.

*In the Shomron community of Yitzhar, the illegal caravan structure removed by police on Thursday was replaced.

*Justice Minister Daniel Friedman expressed his opposition to the Gaza ceasefire, calling the truce with Hamas a “strategic error”. The senior minister stated that opening Gaza crossings prior to obtaining Shalit’s release would be a sign that the nation has “gone mad”.

*A bill authored by Avigdor Lieberman of the Yisrael Beitenu Party that those who do not serve in the IDF pay a 1% annual tax was defeated in Knesset by a large number last week. Most MKs found the bill unacceptably discriminatory, adding it would be better to reward those who serve rather than trying to penalize those who do not. (For more on the bill, see YWN article HERE)

*Labor Minister Ami Ayalon calls on PM Olmert to step down from office to permit the coalition to move forward.

*DM Ehud Barak states concessions to Hamas may not result in Shalit’s release. Barak stated that the opening of Gaza crossings will not necessarily result in Shalit’s release.

*French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife arrived for an official state visit.

*Striking postal employees to step-up sanctions on Monday, halting mail delivery to MKs and government ministries.

*Visiting French President Nicolas Sarkozy joins calls for Gilad Shalit’s release. Shalit is a French citizen.

*International Atomic Energy Agency officials visiting Damascus to inspect site of the bombed reactor that was destroyed by Israel a number of months ago. Syria has announced it will not permit inspectors to visit other sites.

*Public Security Ministers told visiting elected Australian officials that the Gaza ceasefire is part of Israel’s plan to depose Hamas and destroy the current terrorist entity in Gaza.