(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

SECURITY/DEFENSE:

*Elizabeth Goren, 52, a resident of the capital, has been identified as the first fatality in Wednesday’s terror attack.

POLITICS, DOMESTIC & MORE:

*The Knesset on Wednesday passed a number of bills presented in a preliminary vote addressing action against terrorists with Israeli identity cards as was the case in today’s attack.

*Firefighters late Wednesday afternoon were battling a large brush fire in Kfar Chabad. There were no reports of injuries.

*Following Wednesday’s terror attack in Yerushalayim, Israel filed a complaint with the United Nations.

*US military chief Admiral Mike Mullen stated that an assault against Iran by Israel could indeed result in regional destabilization. The head of the joint chief’s of staff visited Israel this week and received a first-hand look at northern and southern border realities.

*Minister of Welfare and Social Services Yitzchak Herzog and the head of Bituach Leumi (National Insurance Agency) have decided the terrorist responsible for Wednesday’s attack would not receive burial benefits given to citizens and his family would not receive death benefits. As absurd as it sounds, in the past, families of terrorists have received these payments.

*The family of the terrorist responsible for Wednesday’s attack in Jerusalem praised him as a Shahid (holy martyr) and has indicated they will set up a mourning tent to honor his memory outside their Jerusalem home.

*Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupoliansky is calling on authorities to raze the home of the terrorist, located in the Tzur Bachar area of the capital. The government has yet to take action against the home of the Jerusalem terrorist responsible for the Merkaz HaRav Yeshiva attack, which occurred months ago.

*Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai next week will undergo surgery on his right lung in connection to an injury sustained during his military career.

*Upon hearing of Wednesday’s terror attack, residents of Jerusalem’s Tzur Bachar neighborhood, home of the terrorist, rejoiced with some even dancing in the streets.