(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel 6:40AM EST)

SECURITY/DEFENSE:

*IDF soldiers involved in counter-terrorism operations throughout Yehuda and Shomron arrested 10 suspects on Tuesday night, including six in Jenin.

*There were exchanges of gunfire between IDF soldiers and Gaza terrorists during the night. No injuries to IDF troops.

*300 illegals apprehended by security forces near Shfaram, including 19 minors.

*IDF soldiers involved in counter-terror operations during the night arrested 14 suspects in Tulkarem and Chevron areas. No injuries were reported.

*Chevron area residents protested on Tuesday morning against the government’s decision to remove K’vasim Junction checkpoint.

*Jewish truck driver reports that Arabs hijacked his vehicle and tied him up on Tuesday in Chevron Hills area. Authorities are investigating.

*Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for Tuesday rocket attacks that injured five.

*In the Arab village of Athil, in the Jenin district, soldiers found two pipe bombs ready for use.

*Many rock-throwing attacks reported throughout Yehuda and Shomron during the later afternoon hours. No injuries being reported.

POLITICS, DOMESTIC & MORE:

*3 soldiers sent to jail for 5.5 months for abusing Arab youths in custody.

*Kibbutz Kfar Aza closing petting zoo area due to ongoing rocket attacks.

*PM Olmert tells AIPAC audience that Iran must be stopped by any means possible.

*Police Chief Cohen points at PM’s Office for source of leaks in the ongoing investigation against him.

*PM Olmert tells AIPAC IDF will launch major military operation in Gaza if necessary.

*Syria refuses to permit international nuclear inspectors into tour 3 suspected nuclear facilities.

*Police are investigating an incident in which a 17-year-old male sustained moderate burns in a Rechovot amusement park. He was transported to the city’s Kaplan Hospital.

*Chazon Dovid shul outpost in Chevron destroyed by authorities again during the night (Monday).

*An Akko man sustained moderate injuries as a result of jumping from his 3rd story apartment during a fire in the 4-story apartment complex. He was taken to a Nahariya hospital. Firefighters did manage to extricate the other residents of the building unharmed.

*440 olive trees to be relocated from Na’alin so they remain on PA side of security fence.

*Residents of Yishuv Eli on Tuesday afternoon at 4:30 gathered to bury the remains of Sergeant-Major Gilad Zusman, whose body parts were among those received from Hizbullah earlier in the week.

*Maran Rav Yosef Sholom Elyashiv Shlita on Monday night resumed his shiur, almost a month after being hospitalized. Family members report that prior to this, he was too weak.

*A security guard at Carmel Hospital was attacked on Tuesday when a visitor refused to subject himself to a routine inspection.

*Attorneys Barak Malkit and Arik Harush filed a petition to the Supreme Court on Tuesday calling on PM Olmert to declare himself unfit to continue serving in office and step down. They also call on the attorney general to set a limit regarding their decision to filed an indictment to spare the citizens of Israel a continuation of current realities and a miscarriage of justice.

*An indictment will be handed down against former Finance Minister Avraham Hirschson in the Tel Aviv District Court on Wednesday. The former senior minister is suspected of having made off with NIS 4 million.

*Rival faction feud in Arab area of Chevron results in one dead and others injured.