The fathers of three IDF captives being held hostage by the Hizbullah met today with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in advance of their leaving for the US. While overseas, they will meet with world leaders in the hope of enlisting support for the release of their sons, who were taken captive in October 2000. Among those scheduled to meet with them is US Senator (R-AZ) John McCain who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam for over five years.

Last night, an Arab suspected of providing intelligence information to Israeli security services, Jamal Shahin, 57, was shot to death in Beit Sachur, in the Bethlehem district. The PA judicial system also sentenced three other persons to death for the same offense.

The American-based Orthodox Union is sponsoring a petition seeking to enlist the support of US elected officials to stop the ongoing Islamic Temple Mount desecration. The OU calls for Americans to contact their Representatives and urge them to support a bill which calls for the cut-off of aid to the Palestinian Authority until the desecration of the Temple Mount and the continued illegal excavations come to an end. To read and sign the petition, visit: http://www.ou.org/public/action/ipa-tm.cfm