(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel / 8:00PM EST)

SECURITY/DEFENSE:

*PA: IAF strikes Gaza target early Wednesday evening. At least one dead.

*Terrorists opened fire at soldiers near the Erez crossing of Gaza. No injuries.

*MDA remains on a level III alert, one level below state-of-emergency in the Sderot area, the result of ongoing rocket attacks.

*Cairo: Various terror factions agree to the Egyptian negotiated ceasefire in Gaza. In the meantime, rocket attacks from Gaza into S. Israel continue.

*A Duvdevan force operating in Ramallah on Wednesday arrested a man suspected of dealing in weapons.

*UNIFIL forces operating in S. Lebanon on Wednesday carried out controlled explosions along Israel’s northern border. The IDF was informed of the activity in advance.

*Gunfire was directed at soldiers in the Nisanit area on Wednesday afternoon. Soldiers returned fire. No injuries.

*Another day of ongoing Kassam rocket and mortar shell attacks in southern Israel. Reports of victims treated for shock/hysteria, property damage and fire caused by the incoming projectiles.

*Rock attack against a bus at Yakir Jct in Shomron on Wednesday night. No injuries.

POLITICS, DOMESTIC & MORE:

*PM Olmert on Wednesday made an unscheduled visit to Jordan, meets with King Abdullah II.

*3 youths in custody in Beit Shean, admitting to break-ins into area vehicles and shuls, where they stole from tzedaka boxes.

*Ministerial committee decides to conduct security exam for police officers of the rank of commander and higher, which will also include a polygraph exam.

*The radical left-wing B’tselem Human Rights Organization demanding additional investigation into deaths of Gaza woman and children, not accepting IDF report.

*20:00 – Holocaust Remembrance Day observance begins.