(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

SECURITY/DEFENSE:

*A training exercise was conducted in Tel Aviv’s Ichilov Hospital simulating a chemical attack in the major medical facility. The exercise involved IDF and civilian agencies. Officials explained they are compelled to run every possible scenario in an effort to maintain a high level of preparedness.

*A farmer in Kibbutz Ein HaShlosha, near the border to Gaza, was lightly wounded in a terrorist shooting attack on Wednesday morning.

*Qassam rockets fired at Sderot landed in northern Gaza.

*Another wave of rockets fired into Sderot at about 11:30am.

*Rocks and firebomb hurled at an Israeli motorist in Shomron near the Arab village of Azzoun.

*UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) officials notified IDF counterparts that explosions heard along the Lebanese border during the afternoon hours are the result of a training exercise and no cause for concern.

*Public Security Minister Avi Dichter announced there are no right-wing revenge attack plans following the Merkaz Yeshiva attack.

*At least 8 Qassam rockets have been fired from Gaza on Wednesday.

*Following the Wednesday morning sniper attack into Kibbutz Ein HaShlosha, the army destroyed brush used to provide cover for the gunman.

*Border police were attacked with rocks in the Shuafat area of the capital. Three arrests were reported.

*At approximately 16:30, a rocket fired from northern Gaza landed in a kibbutz in the jurisdiction of the Chof Ashkelon Council resulting in damage to a building. Islamic Jihad boasted responsibility for the attack.

*Rocks and firebomb hurled at Egged bus near el-Hader Jct. in Gush Etzion on Wednesday evening. No injuries.

*Shooting attack against IDF soldiers from Azzoun in Shomron Wednesday night. No injuries.

POLITICS, DOMESTIC & MORE:

*According to water officials, an unprecedented water crisis is heading our way rapidly as a result of a third consecutive winter without significant rainfall.

*State Comptroller Lindenstrauss has been instructed to launch an investigation into government efforts towards obtaining Jonathan Pollard’s release.

*A bill demanding minimum wage for compulsory duty soldiers was approved in a preliminary Knesset vote by a 41-38 margin.

*Lab employees of government hospitals announced they are ending sanctions and will return to work Thursday morning after Finance Ministry officials agreed to labor negotiations.

*PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) is scheduled to visit Washington in April at which time he will meet with US President George W. Bush.

*Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai announced that members of the Knesset Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee would be briefed regarding the outcome of inspections pertaining to the grounding of F16i fighter jets found to contain cancerous materials.

*Labor MK Eitan Cabel has informed party leader Ehud Barak that he is leaving his post as party chairman.

*The dollar fell 0.256%, trading at 3.504 to the shekel. The euro gained 0.674%, trading at 5.510 to the shekel.