SECURITY/DEFENSE:

*Today, Thursday, is day 163 of the virtual Gaza ceasefire.

*Today is Gilad Shalit’s 887th day in Hamas captivity.

*IDF soldiers involved in counter-terror operations throughout Yehuda and Shomron on Wednesday night arrested 23 suspects.

POLITICS, DOMESTIC & MORE:

*Thousands expected to take part in a rally opposite the Prime Minister’s Resident in Yerushalayim on Thursday evening demanding that PM Olmert ensure that Gilad [ben Aviva] Shalit is released before stepping down from office.

*Kadima leader Tzipi Livni convening an urgent faction meeting, presumably to demand PM Olmert suspend himself effective immediately following AG’s announcement that an indictment appears likely.

*Defense Ministry official Amos Gilad met in Cairo with Egyptian officials on Wednesday to discuss the Gaza ceasefire and the release of Gilad Shalit.

*Aide to PM Olmert, Amir Dan, announced Mr. Olmert has no plans of suspending himself following AG Mazuz’s announcement.

*A rally in support of the leader of the Manhigut Yehudit faction of Likud, Moshe Feiglin, attracted hundreds of supporters.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)