News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) The level of the Dead Sea, the lowest point in the world, has dropped to 421.38 meters below sea level, according to the Guards of the Bay watchdog group. The Dead Sea has suffered the past several years from the lack of water in the Jordan River and increased use of water at the Dead Sea Works.

"We are witnessing not only the continuation of the receding level but also a faster rate in its decline," the group said.

Three Years Ago Today at IsraelNN
Interior Minister (Kadima) Ronnie Bar-On stated that the captors of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit "will pay a price that has not yet been seen if they harm him." He added, "It is out of the question to think that we will enter into talks with the terrorists. It must be remembered that we left Gaza and they came out of there to abduct Shalit." 

--Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres said that the Palestinians should conduct negotiations among themselves and not with Israel for the release of IDF Cpl. Gilad Shalit. Peres said, "We are not suckers and won't give a prize to hooligans who act like they are from the jungle."

Eleven Years Ago at IsraelNN
An intelligence report submitted to the government listed 21 prominent Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists serving in the Palestinian security forces. Six of the terrorists played central roles in suicide bombings in Jerusalem, Ashkelon and Tel Aviv during February-March 1996, in which some 60 people were killed.

Eighty-seven Years Ago in Israel
The British Government issued a White Paper, drawn up by Winston Churchill, addressing its projected policy in Mandated Palestine. The paper announced the severing of Trans-Jordan from Mandated Palestine, continued support for the Balfour Declaration, the establishment of a legislative council to represent all the inhabitants of the country and the establishment of the Jewish national home, which would be limited by the country's economic capacity to absorb new arrivals.

One Hundred Five Years Ago in Israel
Theodore Herzl, founder of the Zionist Movement, died in Austria at age 44.