Temple Mount Remains Closed to Non-Muslims
Excerpt;
Jerusalem district police announced late Wednesday night that the Temple Mount would remain closed to Jews and other non-Muslims on Thursday.
Overnight War News …
Wednesday: Nahal Hareidi Commander: We Prevented Large Attack in Tel Aviv
Security Forces on High Alert for Land Day
Unarmed Infiltrators Apprehended at Egyptian Border
Suicide Bomber Caught, Navy Shells Rocket Launching Sites
Soldiers Uninjured in Bomb Attacks
Try Strength, Not Fatigue …
Excerpts;
As Israelis went to the polls, not one of the leading parties offered the option of winning the war against the Palestinians. It’s a striking and dangerous lacuna.
Rather than seek victory, Israelis have developed a lengthy menu of approaches to manage the conflict. These include:
•Unilateralism (building a barrier, partial withdrawals): The current policy, as espoused by Ariel Sharon, Ehud Olmert, and the Kadima Party.
•Lease for 99 years the land under Israeli towns on the West Bank: The Labor Party of Amir Peretz.
Parties Positioning and Strategizing on Coalition Negotiations …
Eitan Vows to Focus on Pensioner’s Issues
Full Text;
Gil Pensioners Party Chairman Rafi Eitan, who led his party to an astounding seven mandates for the 17th Knesset, promised to focus on the issue that got him there.
“People chose for me for a specific issue, thus I have no choice but to concentrate on one thing, the pensioners,” he said in a Channel 1 interview Wednesday night.
“First we will take care of the pensioners, before anything else.”
Eitan was non-committal about coalition options, but said he believed that his party would not be a deciding factor.
Wednesday War News …
Prime Minister-Elect Olmert Facing Special State Controller’s Report: Charges of Alleged Forbidden Political Appointments, Use of Personal Connections …
The State Comptroller is About to Reveal a Special Report:: Olmert and His Close Associates’ Jobs
Excerpt;
The complaint was filed in September 2004 by the Workers’ Committee in the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Tourism – The suspicion: Olmert and Director-General Dinur made forbidden political appointments and made use of personal connections – The Comptroller confirms: he will shortly issue a special report – Olmert and Dinur deny the claims.
This report and 4 others regarding alleged charges illegal appointments, use of personal connections, etc. can be viewed by clicking here.
The Election Post-Mortems Begin …
Final Tabulation of Election by Week’s End
Full Text;
Election committee officials reported earlier on Wednesday morning that the absolute final tabulation of the 17th Knesset election will not be available until Friday morning.
Among the ballots that still have to be counted are those of soldiers, members of the diplomatic corps and government employees stationed abroad, those of Gush Katif evictee families, and some ten ballot boxes from certain districts as well as ballots from areas in Judea and Samaria.
And the War Goes Goes On …
Gaza Crossings Reopen Wednesday
3 Wanted Suspects Arrested South of Shechem
Kassam Rocket Lands in Netiv Ha’Asarah
Armed PA Residents Apprehended at IDF Checkpoint
Shilo Resident Injured in a Rock-Throwing Attack
Islamic Jihad Claims Responsibility for Firing Katyusha Rocket
Mixed Signals In Ramallah: Joy and Warnings
Palestinian Al-Aqsa Brigades Preparing Attack on Ashkelon In Hebrew; click here.
Final Election Results: Kadima 28, Labor 20, Likud Clobbered …
This is a difficult moment, just as was the expulsion last August and the Amona Police Brutality last month.
A lot of questions need answering; Likud’s total collapse, how the Arab parties ended up with 10 mandates when all day long we were told about a remarkably low Arab turnout, the materialization of the orange vote, Hazit’s 65,000 plus “committed” voters, possible vote theft, and more.
Were our votes registered? There was at least one report of possible vote theft.
Yom Bechirah — Updates and Election Night Coverage …
Israel Votes: Continuous IRIS Coverage
Please note up-to-the-moment election coverage.
LIVE RADIO: INR’s Round the Clock Elections Coverage
Continuous Audio/Video Election Coverage From IsraelReporter.com
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Voters Find Ballots Already Cast in Their Name
60% or Less Voter Turnout Foreseen
53% of Israel’s Prisoners Exercise Right to Vote
Likud Leaders Also Worried About Low Turnout – in Likud Areas