Due to mounting diplomatic crisis, President Shimon Peres� state visit to S. Korea has been downgraded.

**FM Lieberman leaves Israel on Sunday night for New York City. He will be meeting with senior members of Israel�s N. America diplomatic corps to discuss PR following the Gaza flotilla incident.

**A large brush fire was reported in the Ramat Beit Shemesh area during the afternoon hours.

** In compliance with a Shin Bet request, Minister of Atomic Energy & Strategy Dan Meridor canceled his planned visit to Turkey on Monday to attend a conference.

**The tires of the vehicle of Dr. Gideon Avni, a senior Israel Antiquities Authority official were slashed in his Maccabim-Reut community. Vandals also filled the vehicle�s door locks with glue. Police are investigating a connection to protests against excavations.

(Yechiel Spira � YWN Israel)