SECURITY/DEFENSE:

*Tuesday, Day 28 of the virtual Gaza ceasefire.

*A firebomb attack was reported near Azzoun on Monday night. No injuries.

*IDF soldiers involved in counter-terror operations throughout Yehuda and Shomron arrested 24 suspects on Monday night. The suspects in custody were turned over to ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) custody for interrogation.

POLITICS, DOMESTIC & MORE:

*According to police, longtime Olmert aide Shula Zaken remained silent during Monday’s five-hour police questioning session pertaining to the prime minister’s acquisition of a home on Jerusalem’s Cremier Street. Kol Chai Radio late Monday night reported this is not so, explaining she did indeed cooperate with police.

*Uri Messer, PM Olmert’s former law partner, did not cooperate with police when questioned regarding cash envelopes from Moshe Talansky.

*Family members of Eliyahu Shachar, the policeman murdered by Samir Kuntar in 1979, met on Monday night with Foreign Minister Livni, asking her to vote against the deal in Tuesday’s cabinet meeting. The family members stated Livni was the only cabinet minister who agreed to meet with them.

*An inspector of the IDF Civil Administration was reportedly attacked by residents of the Yad Yair outpost in Shomron on Monday night. His vehicle was damaged but he escaped injuries. Brig.-Gen, Yoav Yair, responsible for the Civil Administration, called on police to apprehend those responsible.

*DM Barak calls UN Resolution 1701, the Second Lebanon War ceasefire, a failure.

*US presidential candidate Barak Obama will visit Israel next week and he will meet with PM Olmert, FM Livni, DM Barak and then visit Ramallah to meet with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen). (Galei Tzahal Radio)

*Quartet Mideast envoy Tony Blair is scheduled to visit Hamas-controlled Gaza on Tuesday.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)