(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

SECURITY/DEFENSE:

*An Arab carrying a homemade explosive device on his body was taken into custody by IDF soldiers at Hawarah Checkpoint in Shomron near Tapuach Junction on Tuesday night.

*Police arrested four youths involved in blocking Rimonim area road to Arab motorists on Tuesday. The protests followed the removal of the area IDF checkpoint in the Benjamin Regional Council district of Shomron.

*Um-Tuba residents demand the right to travel on new Nokdim-Jerusalem Road in Yehuda.

*A Jewish motorist escaped injuries when a firebomb was hurled at his vehicle Tuesday night near the Arab village of Azzoun, in Shomron.

*A Jewish motorist escaped injuries in a firebomb attack Tuesday night near el-Aroub, southwest of Bet Lechem in the Gush Etzion district.

*Seven mortar shells and one Qassam rocket were fired into southern Israel on Tuesday. Two people sustained light injuries.

POLITICS, DOMESTIC & MORE:

*25-year-old Sharuk Azzam, from Taibeh, was sentenced to 150 hours of community service by the Kfar Saba Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday after she presented a fabricated diploma to the Israel Bar Association attesting to her completion of a law degree from Netanya College.

*Weather officials report the lack of rain this winter is the worst seen in the country in 70 years. There is no rain in the forecast in the coming days. In the north, rainfall this winter amounts to 60% of a regular season. Another sharav heat-wave is predicted for this coming Shabbos.

*Shas MK Shlomo Benizri appears determined to remain in office despite being convicted on bribery, fraud and breech of trust charges.

*Labor Party leader Ehud Barak’s popularity continues to wane as the party is signaling primary elections may be earlier than expected. Ousted party leader Amir Peretz is among the staunchest opponents of Barak.

*Mrs. Achlama Peretz, Amir Peretz’s wife, has rented a building to be used to launch her campaign for the Sderot mayoral race. She hopes to make an official announcement after Pesach, formally entering the race. The Peretz’s are residents of Sderot.