SECURITY/DEFENSE:

*Monday, day 34 of the virtual Gaza ceasefire.

*Today is Gilad Shalit’s 758th day in Hamas captivity.

*Two firebombs were hurled at IDF soldiers operating in Shechem during the night. No injuries were reported. Soldiers apprehended 18 suspected terrorists in the operation.

POLITICS, DOMESTIC & MORE:

*IDF is investigating an incident captured on a video film of a soldier firing a rubber bullet at a demonstrator in custody during a Na’alin anti security fence protest. The film shows an officer of the rank of lt.-colonel looking on as a soldier fires at the prisoner, whose hands are tied, at close range, with rubber bullets. The prisoner was not seriously injured.

*The cabinet on Sunday did not reach a decision regarding the Shochat Commission and calls for increased university tuition. Students continued protesting on Sunday, warning a decision to increase tuition for universities will lead to another strike.

*Day 50 of handicapped strike. On Sunday, dozens of disabled Israeli blocked an entrance to the capital as their protest for increased state aid continues.

*Israeli firefighters on Sunday night extinguished in bringing a major blaze under control in Bituniya, in the Ramallah district. According to PA officials, the fire erupted in a pharmaceutical factory.

*PM Olmert met on Sunday with visiting British PM Brown. Discussions included efforts to obtain Gilad Shalit’s release and the growing Iranian threat.

*British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Monday will address the Knesset. Following a round of talks with Israeli and PA officials on Sunday, he stated an agreement is in reach, in the near future.

*In a joint press conference with British PM Brown, PM Olmert on Sunday stated “we have some significant disagreements but I believe we can overcome them and an agreement can be reached in the allotted timeframe,” referring to calls for an agreement between Israel and the PA by the end of 2008.

*US Chief of Joint Staff Admiral Michael Mullen on Sunday reiterated his concerns over an American or Israeli attack against Iran, which he stated would destabilize the Mideast region.

*The IDF soldier who fired at a bound prisoner, aiming at his feet with a rubber bullet, was arrested based on film footage presented by the B’tselem human rights organization.

*A bulldozer smashed into a GMC van on Malchei Yisrael Street in Yerushalayim’s Geula neighborhood on Sunday. While some panicked for a moment, the passersby quickly realized it was a vehicular accident, not another terror attack.

*A new branch of Yad Sarah opened in Petach Tikvah’s Beilinson Hospital, hoping to serve patients leaving the medical facility who require equipment to ambulate and other devices. It is the organization’s 11th branch located within a hospital.

*Golan Heights: A fire erupted in a home in Moshav Keshet in the middle of the night. A 7-year-old boy died and his 11-year-old sister is in serious condition. She was transported to a hospital by helicopter.

*Democratic presidential hopeful Barak Obama is scheduled to arrive in Israel on Tuesday as he continues his regional tour.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)