Government employment service officials will stop processing new applicants on Wednesday, explaining they are inundated and unable to address the growing demands for unemployment benefits. As unemployment reaches new highs, those responsible for assisting them have decided to strike.

**An explosion believed to be a mortar shell was heard close to 7:00pm Tuesday night in the area of Karni, along the Gaza border.

**Shalit activists on Wednesday plan to stage a protest outside the Prime Minister’s Office as the cabinet convenes to discuss approving a deal for Gilad Shalit’s release.

**Hamas’ Syrian-based leader Khaled Meshal continues to insist that the release of Gilad Shalit will not be tied to a ceasefire deal with Israel.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)