Justice Yosef Shapira has been appointed the next state comptroller. He will serve a 7-year term, replacing Justice Micha Lindenstrauss.

** In light of the refusal of chareidi elected officials to sit on the committee formulating the new Tal Law, attorney Yitzchak Weinrot�will represent chareidi interests on the committee. He is being appointed by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

** Magen David Adom moves to heightened operational alert status in light of Nakba Day and fears of violence in areas of Yehuda, Shomron and elsewhere.

** A Kassam rocket landed in an open area in the Shar HaNegev Regional Council at about 7AM. There were no injuries.

(YWN � Israel Desk, Jerusalem)