* Defense officials: Hizbullah has rockets that can reach Dimona Senior defense officials say Hizbullah has dramatically increased its rocket range and now threatens most of Israel.

* Barak confirms transfer of armored vehicles to PA Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Wednesday he had agreed to the transfer of new vehicles and equipment to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ security forces.

* Ashkenazi: Consider all measures to stop Iran Iran is a threat to the entire Middle East and the free world and all deterrence measures should be considered.

* IDF: Islamic Jihad producing Grad-like rockets The Islamic Jihad terror group has recently began manufacturing rockets capable of reaching a 12.5-mile range.

* Iraqi troops, Mahdi Army fight for control of Sadr City Shi’ite militiamen are everywhere. Police and Iraqi army checkpoints are nowhere in sight.

* Putin invites Bush to confer in move to avoid public clash President George W. Bush announced Wednesday that he had accepted an invitation by President Vladimir Putin to visit Russia next week.

* Mubarak snubs Arab summit in Syria Egypt announced Wednesday that it would send a junior minister to the Arab summit in Damascus, which is expected to take place starting Saturday.

* Rabbis Call on Gov’t to Fulfil Promise to Bring Falash Mura Home A conference at the Inbal Hotel in Jerusalem Wednesday was dedicated to a call for bringing 8,000 members of the Falash Mura group from Ethiopia to Israel.

* Olmert hints at secret Syrian track Prime Minister Ehud Olmert hinted Wednesday night at the prospect of secret talks with Syria.

* Bible club founded by Ben-Gurion gets revived with a Peres twist The president’s Bible club, which resumed activity Wednesday at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, after a hiatus of more than four years, has undergone several incarnations.