Gidon Meir, a senior Israeli foreign Ministry official, said that Israel has rejected an offer brokered by Egypt for freeing Arab terrorists in exchange for abducted army corporal Gilad Shalit. "In general, Israel's stance is, as the Prime Minister said earlier, that the soldier will only be released unconditionally and there will be no negotiations with a gang of terrorists and criminals who abducted a soldier from Israeli territory."
--Itamar resident Eliyahu Asheri died immediately when he was kidnapped, according to Central Commander Yair Naveh. Popular Resistance Committees terrorists claimed they had kept Asheri alive while considering the possibility of holding him for ransom. "They had absolutely no intention to hold negotiations," Naveh said.
27 Years Ago in Israel
The Likud won 48 seats in general elections, enabling Menachem Begin to form a new government.
71 Years Ago in Israel
Kibbutz Tiryat Tzvi, in the Bet Shean Valley, was established as the first religious kibbutz. Like other kibbutzim, it was based on the stockade-and-watchtower model. This building method reinvigorated Jewish settlement activity in the mid-1930s.