SECURITY/DEFENSE:

*Today, Friday, is day 80 of the virtual Gaza ceasefire.

*Today is Gilad Shalit’s 803rd day in Hamas captivity.

*IDF soldiers involved in counter-terror operations throughout Yehuda and Shomron on Thursday night arrested 16 suspects. The suspects in custody were turned over to the ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) for interrogation.

POLITICS, DOMESTIC & MORE:

*During an address on Thursday, Hizbullah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah stated, “we are at war with Israel”

*7 Israeli firemen training in France assisted local firefighters in rescuing people in caravans swept away in flood waters.

*Likud officials announced on Thursday that former IDF intelligence chief Uzi Dayan has not joined the party, adding talks towards this goal continue.

*Quartet Mideast envoy Tony Blair stated that while life is improving in the “West Bank,” it is not occurring fact enough.

*During a visit to Syria, French President Nicolas Sarkozy warned Iran it is risking an attack by Israel.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)