SECURITY/DEFENSE:

*Today, Wednesday, is day 78 of the virtual Gaza ceasefire.

*Today is Gilad Shalit’s 801st day in Hamas captivity. (We are setting back the Gilad Shalit counter one day after the government announced Tuesday was day 800. YWN was counting the day he was taken captive but the official count begins the following day. In order to be in sync with the ‘official count,’ we have turned back the clock one day making today 801. May Hashem assist us in witnessing his release today!)

*IDF soldiers involved in counter-terror operations throughout Yehuda and Shomron arrested 10 suspects on Tuesday night.

POLITICS, DOMESTIC & MORE:

*Shas Jerusalem official: 40 Sephardi girls have not begun school due to the discrimination in the system that has not permitted them entry into schools.

*PM Olmert and FM Livni are continuing talks in the hope of reaching an agreement with the PA.

*Wednesday night is the 22nd yahrzeit of former Tel Aviv Chief Rabbi, Rav Yitzchak Yedidya Frankel z”l.

*A loud explosion was heard on Wednesday morning in N. Tel Aviv, on Levy Eshkol Street due to a burning motorcycle. Residents were alarmed, fearing a terror attack.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)