MOAR SETTLEMENTS

1,096.--Number of new homes Israel just approved to build in settlements, according to Peace Now.

• Police officer caught on film shooting at Palestinian in East Jerusalem gas station - Officer claims he opened fire on Mahmoud Abu Sneina after being threatened with a screwdriver; Abu Sneina denies this. (Haaretz+)
• Reports in Lebanon: 'IDF soldiers fell into Hezbollah trap' - Media outlets claim detonation of two bombs planted by Shiite group led to injury of four Israeli soldiers near border Wednesday. (Ynet)
• Amid tensions in Egypt, Eilat airport closes briefly on Israeli army orders - Closure likely to have come in light of security threat; eight flights expected to be rerouted from airport in southern Israel, situated near Egypt border. (Haaretz)
• Government included in National Priorities Map unrecognized Bedouin villages it is trying to evacuate - Meaning: Villages destined for destruction will receive benefits. The method: The Map includes names of whole tribes - instead of the names of the villages they live in. (Maariv, p. 1, NRG Hebrew)
• Housing Minister to inaugurate real estate project near Jabal Mukaber neighborhood (in E. Jerusalem) - A project to build 63 apartments next to Jabal Mukaber received a final permit. Next week Housing Minister Uri Ariel and Mayor Nir Barekat will lay a cornerstone. The businessmen: Construction was delayed for years for political reasons. (Yedioth Jerusalem supplement, p. 12)
• Amnesty: Hamas must halt post-Eid executions planned in Gaza - Islamist group's AG says several convicted 'criminals' set to be executed in public as 'lesson' to others. (Ynet)
• Steinitz: Iran's nuclear program can be destroyed with a few hours of airstrikes - Exiled opposition group says Iran is building a new nuclear facility east of Tehran. Satellite images suggest new missiles test site being built north of Semnan province. (Israel Hayom)
• Rightists fear new election threshold will bring more Arabs to Knesset - Yesh Atid MK Ofer Shelah, who is pushing for passing of Governability Law, says outcry labeling it anti-democratic move not warranted. (Haaretz+)
• U.S. Rep. Cantor to lead GOP lawmakers on AIPAC Israel tour - Such tours, funded by the American Israel Education Foundation, are held on off-election years and are geared to freshmen lawmakers. (JTA, Haaretz)

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