Evening News Briefs from Eretz Yisrael

An Egyptian policeman patrolling the Israeli border was wounded in a shoulder by gunfire as he tried to stop drug smugglers on their way to Israel. A shootout ensued. The wounded officer was reported in stable condition early Monday afternoon.

**Speaking in a Beersheva school on Monday, President Shimon Peres expressed his support for reforming Israel’s governmental system, adding he does not plan to force a unity coalition on Kadima and Likud but does support the idea.

**The latest state comptroller’s report which was submitted to the government this week implicates Ehud Olmert of improprieties in his capacity as finance minister in connection to land allocations for the Jerusalem College of Engineering.

15:30: The IAF for a second time on Monday bombed tunnels along Philadelphi Road in Gaza.

**A man was lightly injured in his head by rocks as Arabs attacked him and robbed him on Monday afternoon near Yishuv Avnei Chafetz in Shomron.

**A Bet Shean civil servant is suspected of making off with NIS 500 million. The 52-year-old employee of Bet Shean City hall was arrested on Monday.

**Kadima coalition negotiator signals the party will accept Yisrael Beitenu’s list of demands with the exception of the citizenship loyalty demands.

**Newly-elected Meretz MK Nitzan Hurwitz next week plans to submit a bill to Knesset towards accepting civil marriage in Eretz Yisrael. Hurwitz hopes to enlist a majority for his bill, claiming the Yisrael Beitenu version discriminates against segments of the population.

**Two guests, a teen and a 55-year-old woman were hospitalized as a result of the Eilat Club Hotel hazmat incident on Monday. They are reported in light-to-moderate condition.

**Hamas in Gaza continues to insist there will be no ceasefire deal including the release of Shalit, blaming Israel for delays. Hamas official Taher al-Nunu stated he made the terror organization’s position clear in Cairo talks.