Some 6,000 Palestinians from Gaza took part in the weekly riots along the Gaza border fence. Terrorists among the crowd threw improvised explosive devices, hand-grenades, Molotov cocktails and rocks at IDF personnel. In some flash-points the rioters caused severe damage to the fence itself.

In addition, Terrorists from Gaza launched a balloon bomb at Israel that landed near Kibbutz Lahav. The bomb was deactivated by sappers before it could cause damage or fire. Head of the Bnei Shimon regional council Nir Zamir said: “I am saddened that the towns of the Bnei Shimon regional council have also been dragged into the line of fire in this never-ending war of attrition.”

Anonymous vandals destroyed a memorial that was erected in memory of First Sergeant Oz Mendelovitz located near the town of Misgav. Mendelovitz as killed in operation Protective Edge. Family members of the deceased told the media that they would rebuild the memorial once again. Mendelovitz’s mother said: “This is difficult vandalism to deal with. I feel as if they have killed my son once again. The pain in my heart is incredible.”

Former Defense Minister and Yisrael Beiteinu faction leader Avigdor Lieberman told the media on Motzei Shabbos that he will not recommend a right-wing government and will not attach his party to a government of that type. “Yisrael Beiteinu will only join a liberal government that is widely representative and nationalistic that is comprised of our party, the Likud and the Blue and White party. We will not consider any other option. Not in return for a draft law, not in return for extra-budgetary considerations, and not in consideration of any type of rotation. The first party that commits to establishing a unity government between the  Likud and Bue and White, that is who we will recommend to the President. Should neither commit to that course of action before we meet with the President after the elections, then we will not recommend anyone.”

A 38-year-old father was critically injured and is fighting for his life after he and his family were hit by a drunk driver while they were walking on the sidewalk on Herzl Boulevard in Kiryat Gat on Shabbos. The mother was moderately injured int he accident, but the couple’s two daughters (aged 7 and 5) were both seriously injured. A 22-year old Kiryat Gat resident has been arrested and questioned. Police are looking into whether the driver was drunk or not.

A 50-year-old man was found unconscious and without a pulse in a residential parking garage on Michael HaNegbi Street in Be’er Sheva on Shabbos. United Hatzalah volunteers and Magen David Adom ambulance teams rushed to the scene and performed CPR on the man in an attempt to resuscitate him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 19-year-old was seriously injured when his car ran into the dividing barrier on Highway 6 near the Sorek interchange on Motzei Shabbos. He was treated at the scene by United Hatzalah and MDA teams before being transported to the hospital.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)