IDF soldiers taking part in counter-terrorism operations throughout Yehuda and Shomron during the night arrested five suspects.

** Four people were injured in an accident between a public bus and a private vehicle in the Har Homa area of the southern capital in the morning.

** Histadrut leader Ofir Eini announces that there will be a general sector strike next week.

** Police have questioned and released over ten suspects in last week’s assault and beating of Avraham Hirschman (http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/article.php?p=107258) in the Geula area of the capital.

** Police safely extricated a four-year-old forgotten in a vehicle for two hours in Ashdod. The girl was in good condition. The driver is being questioned by police.

** Shas leader Minister Eli Yishai today denied statements attributed to him regarding the complexities of an Israeli military offensive against Iran. He issued the denial while visiting Sderot.

** Amram Mitzne, a former Labor Party leader and retired IDF major-general feels the public should indeed discuss Israel’s option vis-à-vis Iran, conceptually speaking, not anything to do with details of military preparations.

** A shloshim event was held in Kibbutz Kfar Etzion on Wednesday night in memory of Chanan Porat z”l.

** Exchanges of gunfire between IDF and terrorists in N. Gaza during the early afternoon hours.. IDF tanks responded. Helicopter gunships eliminated two terrorists.

** PM Netanyahu freezes Israel’s participation in UNESCO annual budget in response to the international organization accepting the PA as a member.

** Less than 24 hours after Syria announces it accepts conditions for an end to violence, security forces murdered nine people.

** Ynet: NATO has “no intention whatsoever” of intervening in Iran, the alliance’s top official said in response to reports that some governments may be planning a military strike against Tehran’s nuclear program.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)