News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama wound up his two-day visit to Israel with a pre-dawn visit to the Western Wall (Kotel), where he and his wife quietly read Psalm 122. The Psalm is a prayer for peace for the city, where the Temple Mount site behind the Western Wall is the holiest place for Jews around the world. Senator Obama did not speak with reporters about his recent retraction of a statement that Jerusalem is the undivided capital of Israel.

He and his wife spent about 10 minutes at the Kotel, where he wore a white skullcap (kippa) and was escorted by the Western Wall's Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovich.

--Shmuel Avuhov, the head of the Or Yarok (Green Light) lobby against reckless driving called on Israeli drivers to help keep accidents down this year. Avuhov said that it is the responsibility of every Israeli driver to ensure that the number of road traffic accidents decreases. He added that 400 deaths in road accidents this year alone, was beyond any form of justification and urged increased personal accountability on the subject.

More than a hundred people were injured in traffic accidents, despite the day's designation as one for being extra careful on the road.

Two Years Ago Today at IsraelNN
Former MK Azmi Bishara, on the run after being investigated for treason and other crimes, said he does not plan on returning to Israel to defend himself in court. "The symbolic action of bringing me to trial and condemning me - they want it," Bishara said. "I am not going to let them succeed; I am always two steps ahead."

Three Years Ago Today at IsraelNN
IDF Chief-of-Staff Dan Halutz said that Hizbullah has the capability to fire longer-range missiles at Tel Aviv and Gush Dan.