One of the cases against Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has been closed due to a lack of evidence. State Prosecutor Moshe Lador closed the case on the Bank Leumi affair, saying he can’t prove Olmert acted in a conflict of interest. While serving as acting finance minister in 2005, Olmert allegedly changed the terms of a tender to purchase shares of Bank Leumi in order to help his friend, Australian businessman Frank Lowy. Olmert is still the target of five other investigations, which led to his resignation as prime minister. He remains in office until Feb. 10 elections

An Israeli soldier lost his leg in a mortar attack from the Gaza Strip on an Israeli army base. Sgt. Noam Nakash was among eight solders injured in the attack on the Nahal Oz military base on the evening of Nov. 28. Doctors were fighting to save his other leg. The base in southern Israel, near Sderot, has been hit before by Palestinian mortars. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Aid allowed onto Gaza

Some 70 truckloads of humanitarian aid were allowed into Gaza on Dec. 4. The aid flowed as crossings between Israel and the strip were temporarily opened for the fourth time since Israel sealed its border with the terrorist Hamas-run territory after an increase in rocket attacks more than a month ago. Diesel fuel also was pumped into Gaza.