SECURITY/DEFENSE:

*IDF soldiers involved in counter-terror operations throughout Yehuda and Shomron on Wednesday night arrested 12 suspects.

*An IDF soldier was lightly injured by rocks in an operation in Tuqwa in the eastern Gush Etzion area.

*Avraham Ozeri HY”D, 86, was the fatality in the Thursday morning stabbing attack in Yerushalayim.

*Rocks thrown at Israeli vehicles during the Thursday evening rush hour near Beit Iba, west of Chevron. No injuries were reported.

*A policeman was lightly injured in an anti-fence protest in Na’alin.

POLITICS, DOMESTIC & MORE:

*A resident of Yishuv Otniel was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an IDF soldier on Wednesday.

*Premier-designate Livni: Offer to Shas will be her last before making a decision regarding her coalition or moving to elections.

*Livni expected to make an announcement on Sunday if coalition talks will continue or if the nation will go to elections. The premier-designate has signaled if she does not have a coalition by Sunday, she will most likely call for elections.

*Pensioners Party canceled a coalition negotiating meeting with Kadima for Thursday evening after not receiving “a logical” response to basic demands regarding coalition talks.

*The US dollar continued to climb against the NIS on Thursday surpassing 3.9. The dollar closed in trading at 3.841.

*The Women in Green organization held a protest outside Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) in Jaffa in protest over the dismissal of radio host Dudu Elhar for his “right-wing views” which are deemed unacceptable by the station. The mainstream media seems to have imposed a media blackout of the protest event.

*Heavy rain fell in Haifa on Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Showers are predicted for Friday and Shabbos in northern and central areas of the country.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)