(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

SECURITY/DEFENSE:

*Brig.-Gen. Amir Eshel was appointed head of the IDF’s Planning Branch and as such, will move up to the rank of major-general. He replaces Ido Nehushtan, who is the incoming Israel Air Force commander.

*Four new Sufah (Storm) fighter jets, F16i, landed in Israel on Thursday night as part of a major upgrade of the air force’s fleet.

*Arab foreign ministers meeting in Syria on Thursday night agreed to re-launch Arab 2002 peace initiative, stressing they remain committed to regional peace. The 2002 plans calls on Israel to withdraw from lands liberated in June 1967 War.

POLITICS, DOMESTIC & MORE:

*US Secretary of State Rice scheduled to arrive on Saturday night.

*Knesset Law Committee has approved steps towards increased restrictions to prevent fraudulent voting in the next national election, focusing on the use of the identities of dead people in polling stations.

*Petach Tikvah Magistrate’s Court on Thursday sentenced a former GSS agent to 250 hours community service for employing an illegal resident of the Palestinian Authority.

*Minister Ruchama Avraham (Kadima) was questioned by police “under warning” on Thursday in connection to allegedly accepting funding for a trip abroad in 2004 from the Aggrexco Company. Being questioned “under warning” signals an indictment is more likely in the future.

*The heart of IDF Cpl. Yaniv Pozoarik, who died as a result of tragic misfire incident, was transplanted into 25-year-old Salim Louai, who had terminal heat disease. The recipient is reportedly doing well.