Police report the eviction of the residents and supporters from Hevron’s Beit Shapira has been completed.

--Prime Minister Ehud Olmert stated, "It should be clear that the eviction in Hevron does not reflect government policy."

--Israel’s new Defense Minister, Labor party Chairman Amir Peretz said that he hoped the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority would take advantage of Israel’s willingness to make concessions in the interest of peace.

--The $4-billion purchase of Galilee-based Iscar Metalworking by U.S. businessman Warren Buffet sparked a record jump in the Tel Aviv stock market, the first day of trading after the announcement of the sale.