US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says that America supports the UN Security Council ceasefire resolution despite abstaining in the vote. The senior US official added Israel has the right to defend itself and Hamas must release Gilad Shalit.

5:12AM: Sirens sound in Beersheva due to a technical mishap.

**A fire erupted in a Bnei Brak yeshiva on Ben-Yaakov Street during the night. No additional information at this time.

**PA reports seven dead in an air force strike in Gaza.

**Former US President Jimmy Charter says Israel’s response to rocket attacks from Gaza is disproportionate but hopes it may eventually lead to a long-term regional peace agreement.

**Hundreds of anti-Israeli protestors in Montreal on Thursday stormed the Israeli Consulate. They were eventually removed by local police.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)