SECURITY/DEFENSE:

*Monday, day 27 of the virtual Gaza ceasefire.

*More violent protests at Na’alin on Sunday night against the construction of the security fence. Arabs and left-wingers hurled rocks at security forces who used stun grenades, rubber bullets and teargas against the violent crowd.

*High alert along the northern border by IDF as Israel prepares for the Regev-Goldwasser prisoner exchange deal. The alert status is expected to continue following the actualization of the prisoner exchange on Wednesday.

*IDF soldiers involved in counter-terror operations on Sunday night apprehended five suspects in Shechem. The suspects in custody were turned over to the ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) for interrogation.

POLITICS, DOMESTIC & MORE:

*DM Ehud Barak has postponed his Monday departure for Washington, where he was to hold a number of high-level meetings, due to this week’s planned Regev-Goldwasser prisoner release deal. The defense minister will most likely travel to Washington in August.

*FM Livni, who was speaking from Paris, told reporters from Israel she will refrain from commenting on new chapter in Olmert investigation until her return from Israel since she is attending a state function in her capacity as foreign minister, opting not to use the foreign forum to release such a message.

*44 leaders from Europe & Mideast attending the Mediterranean Conference hosted in Paris.

*German Chancellor Angela Mekel, who met on Sunday at the Mediterranean conference in Paris with Syria leader Bashar al-Assad, called upon him to translate his statements regarding relations with Lebanon into actions.

*Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad stresses that Israel must agree to a total withdrawal from the entire Golan Heights in exchange for normalized relations.

*Prosecution refuses to give PM Olmert’s attorneys new evidence in the case against him prior to the Talansky cross examination.

*IDF colonel Dror Platin, the commander of IDF parachute school, was seriously injured in a parachuting accident near Kibbutz Palmachim on Sunday night. He was transported to Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer Hospital for emergency surgery. The senior officer was transported by helicopter. The IDF is investigating the accident which occurred during a training exercise.

*A lifeguard on Palmachim Beach on Sunday stumbled across a 2,500-year-old maritime relic.

*Speaking on Sunday at a conference addressing corruption, State Attorney General Menachem Mazuz stated that it is legitimate to ask if Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is suited to continue in his position in light of the case against him.

*Egyptian security forces on Sunday arrested 21 members of the Islamic Brotherhood during a meeting of the radical organization.

*DM Barak: Hizbullah report does not provide conclusive facts regarding Ron Arad.

*Police in the coming weeks expected to recommend criminal indictments against PM Olmert in the Talansky envelopes case as well as the recent case involving double and triple billing for airline tickets.

*Despite mounting evidence against PM Olmert at home, Mr. Olmert continues exhibiting a ‘business as usual’ external gaze at Paris Mediterranean Conference.

*Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz hires the services of strategic advisor Arthur Finkelstein in Kadima leadership race.

*Yossi Klinger, the manager of Rishon Tours, refused to respond to questions from reporters regarding his firm’s connection to the investigation against PM Olmert.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)