SECURITY/DEFENSE:

*Today, Monday, is day 97 of the virtual Gaza ceasefire.

*Today is Gilad Shalit’s 820th day in Hamas captivity.

*A burning tire was placed in the road by Arabs between the communities of Elon Moreh and Itamar in Shomron on Sunday night.

*A bus was targeted in a firebomb attack on the Hussan Bypass Road near Betar on Sunday night. No injuries were reported.

*An Israeli vehicle was targeted in a rock-throwing attack near Chawarah in Shomron on Sunday night. No injuries were reported but the vehicle was damaged.

*A border policeman was lightly injured by rocks hurled by Arabs at Na’alin on Monday morning.

POLITICS, DOMESTIC & MORE:

*Meretz Party Chairman Chaim Oron calls Labor Party leader Ehud Barak’s behavior regarding coalition talks “catastrophic”.

*PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) met with Jordan’s King Abdullah II to discuss negotiations between the PA and Israel.

*Kadima MK Ze’ev Elkin, a supporter of Shaul Mofaz, has appealed the outcome of last week’s primary race. He is demanding a recount and an inspection into events at polling stations.

*The L’Tet (To Give) organization reports 400,000 Israelis living below the poverty line will not have the means to purchase yom tom necessities. As a result of rising prices, there is also an increase in the number of poor who do not fill prescriptions for medications, opting instead to use the money to feed their children and themselves.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)