SECURITY/DEFENSE:

*IDF soldiers on motzei Shabbos shot and killed an Arab who was about to hurl a firebomb at them. The incident occurred in the Shechem district of Shomron.

*A bus traveling near the Arab village of Hizme, on Jerusalem’s northern border, was targeted during the late morning on Sunday by Arab rock-throwers. The bus’ windshield was damaged.

*At least one person sustained light injuries and others were treated for hysteria in Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon following early evening Kassam rocket attacks.

POLITICS, DOMESTIC & MORE:

*Israel’s Tivol Company, owned by Osem, has paid $20 million to purchase the American FoodTech Company which also produces meat-substitute products under the name VeggiePatch.

*PA sources in Gaza report the four terrorists eliminated in a targeted IAF strike on Sunday morning were senior commanders in the Popular Resistance Front. They were killed as they prepared a rocket launcher.

*PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) on Sunday called on Israel to halt aerial strikes into Gaza, blaming Israel for violating the Gaza ceasefire.

*PM Olmert stated on Sunday that Israel is not afraid of a confrontation in Gaza if compelled into such a reality.

*Terrorists in Gaza report 4 dead and 6 injured in IAF surgical aerial strike that followed Kassam rocket attack on Sunday morning. They vow to launch revenge attacks against Israel.

*At the opening of the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday AM, PM Olmert stated he has instructed senior military commanders to present him with options in the coming days that can be immediately implemented if required to restore quiet to the southern areas.

*DM Barak continues to release stern messages of warning to Gaza-based terrorists but announces Israel must work to save the ceasefire.

*Shas leader Deputy PM Eli Yishai calls for drastic measures to restore quiet to the Greater Sderot Area, rejecting the alleged ceasefire as Israelis are under constant threat of renewed rocket attacks.

*Likud Central Committee to convene on Sunday evening in Tel Aviv Convention Center to approve party primary election on 11 Kislev.

*Veteran Likud lawmaker Dr. Uzi Landau announced on Sunday he will not be running on the Likud ticket in the next election. Landau was a member of the 11th through 16th Knessets and considered a hawkish member of the party.

*Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz on Sunday called for the renewal of the IDF’s ‘targeted killings’ policy in which senior terrorists are eliminated in surgical operations.

*Meretz MK Zahava Gal-On stated on Sunday that ‘targeted killings” by the IDF only serve to increase attacks against Israel.

*Two residents of Issawiya in eastern Yerushalayim were charged with aiding the enemy and planning a terror attack.

*Yesha Council leaders called the Supreme Court decision to evacuate Bet HaShalom in Chevron “outrageous and unjust,” adding the once again we see total cooperation between the state prosecutor and the judicial system, working with a government that maintains a hostile policy towards communities in Yehuda and Shomron.

*Chevron spokesman Noam Arnon in response to the High Court’s Bet HaShalom ruling called the decision “anti-Jewish” and “racist”, stating it once again shows the nation’s High Court is politically left-wing.

*Health Ministry reaches agreement with treasury to increase nation’s healthcare basket for pharmaceuticals by NIS 5 million in 2010.

*The National Council to Save Eretz Yisrael is offering rewards of NIS thousands for soldiers refusing to comply with orders to evict Jews from Chevron’s Bet HaShalom.

*Syrian news reports Syrian President Bashar al-Assad called on the Arab League to assist in breaking Israel’s siege on Hamas-controlled Gaza.

*Workers at Ben-Gurion International Airport on Sunday afternoon declared a strike due to ongoing work dispute. The airport authority is seeking a back-to-work order from the National Labor Court. Flight delays are reported.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)