The family of kidnapped IDF Staff Sgt. Gilad Shalit gathered with friends at the soldier’s home in his upper Galilee community of Mitzpeh Hila to mark his 22nd birthday.

--A delegation of 16 Bnai Anousim arrived from Europe this week for a visit from Spain, Portugal, Italy and France, arranged under the auspices of the “Shavei Israel” organization. Bnai Anousim is the Hebrew term for people who were forced to convert to Christianity during the Spanish and Portuguese Inquisitions of the 15th and 16th centuries C.E. Those who continued to observe Judaism in secret are called “Crypto-Jews”.

The group is active in nine different countries, including India, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Russia, China and South America, working with Bnai Anousim, sometimes referred to as “Conversos” or “Marranos”, in various locations.

--Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni ranked No. 52 in Forbes Magazine’s annual list of the world’s most influential women, published Thursday, outstripped by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who ranked No.7 out of 100.

Israeli Arab Knesset Member Ahmed Tibi, chairman of the United Arab List (Ta’al) paid tribute to the Voice of Peace pirate ship radio station founder and peace activist Abie Nathan, calling him a “brave pioneer and man of peace.” Nathan passed away in Tel Aviv last night at the age of 81 after a protracted illness. Tibi added, “I only regret that few others followed in his footsteps.”

Two Years Ago at IsraelNN
Speaking at a rally to mark his son’s 21st birthday, Noam Shalit slammed Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for not doing enough to secure his son’s release. “There are no meaningful negotiations,” said Noam Shalit, adding that there has been a total failure to achieve solid results.

Three Years Ago at IsraelNN
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has denied all the charges raised in a report by State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss, which criticized the Prime Minister, when he served as Minister of Trade and Industry, for allowing political appointments favoring Likud party members in the Israel Small and Medium Enterprise Authority.

--Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni stated that “the crisis with Lebanon will only be resolved when captive IDF soldiers are returned to Israel.” Livni added, “As long as the hostages are not released, from our perspective, the ceasefire has little importance.”

--Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced that two commissions of inquiry into the war in Lebanon will be established. One will investigate the performance of the military and the second to report on the actions of the government during the war.