SECURITY/DEFENSE:

*Today, Thursday, is day 72 of the virtual Gaza ceasefire.

*Today is Gilad Shalit’s 796th day in Hamas captivity. It is also his 22nd birthday and his third birthday in captivity.

*5 members of Islamic Jihad, representatives of the terror organization in al-Najah University, were taken into custody by IDF troops operating in Shechem.

*IDF soldiers taking part in counter-terror operations throughout Yehuda and Shomron apprehended 17 suspects during the night. The suspects were turned over to the ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) for interrogation.

POLITICS, DOMESTIC & MORE:

*A.B. Natan, born in 1927, died on Wednesday in Ichilov Hospital. He was known for his radical left-wing views and his struggle to bridge the gap between Jews and Arabs, seeking to spread his message of coexistence through his secular pirate radio station, Voice of Peace, which was a ship-based radio broadcast outside Israeli territorial waters.

*Police continuing searching for the body of 4.5-year-old Rose, indicating they will “drain the Yarkon River” if that is what it takes to recovery her remains.

*Police raided an Ashkelon storage facility and recovered 1,700 48kg gas canisters which were stolen and believed on their way to Hamas-controlled Gaza.

*While a final determination has not been made, authorities believe the kidnapping of an Israeli in Nigeria on Tuesday night was a criminal matter and a ransom will be demanded. Authorities do not believe it was a terrorist abduction at this time.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)