Tuesday Midday News Briefs

The Chevron Jewish Cemetery was vandalized and a number of graves were damaged. Jewish community leaders filed a complaint with police.

**With the end of the Gaza War, Amman announced its ambassador to Israel will return to Tel Aviv.

**Despite statements holding Hamas responsible for the Gaza War, EU officials are moving ahead at a brisk pace to infuse funds into the Hamas-led regime instead of seeking to use the leverage of funds to oust the terrorist leadership.

**President Shimon Peres is reportedly prepared for a difficult confrontation expected to take place at the Davos Economic Summit which is also being attended by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Arab League Secretary Amr Moussa.

**Speaking to Hizbullah’s al-Manar TV, Syrian leader Al-Assad stated he will be willing to enter into negotiations with whoever is elected in Israel, even Binyamin Netanyahu.

**Hamas PM Ismail Haniyah sent a congratulatory message to President Barak Obama, al-Jazeera reports. In the letter, the terrorist leader calls Obama’s election “a victory for mankind towards freedom”.

**A resident of Bnei Brak and Hong Kong was arrested by customs agents trying to smuggle diamonds worth hundreds of thousands of dollars into the country. Agents report the diamond merchant affixed the diamond to costume jewelry in an attempt to bring them into Israel and avoid paying taxes.

**Negev district police have arrested two males who allegedly sold forged drivers licenses for the sum of NIS 4,500. According to police, the two already sold dozens to southern area residents.

**A military vehicle went up in flames in Kiryat Shmona near Koach Jct. on Tuesday morning. Soldiers succeeded in removing a quantity of ammunition from the burning vehicle. The cause of the blaze is not reported. No injuries were reported.

**Train service is suspended between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv on Tuesday to permit maintenance work.