Due to mounting diplomatic crisis, President Shimon Peres’ state visit to S. Korea has been downgraded.

**FM Lieberman leaves Israel on Sunday night for New York City. He will be meeting with senior members of Israel’s N. America diplomatic corps to discuss PR following the Gaza flotilla incident.

**A large brush fire was reported in the Ramat Beit Shemesh area during the afternoon hours.

** In compliance with a Shin Bet request, Minister of Atomic Energy & Strategy Dan Meridor canceled his planned visit to Turkey on Monday to attend a conference.

**The tires of the vehicle of Dr. Gideon Avni, a senior Israel Antiquities Authority official were slashed in his Maccabim-Reut community. Vandals also filled the vehicle’s door locks with glue. Police are investigating a connection to protests against excavations.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)