Journalist and media personality Sivan Rahav-Meir has been awarded the Jerusalem Prize in Jewish media.Rahav-Meir gives weekly lectures In the Torah portion and writes "The Daily Portion," inspirational pieces that connect words of Torah to events happening in Israel.Rahav-Meir is 39 years old, the mother of five, and a resident of Jerusalem.

Zaka has released a statement confriming it will continue all of its operations as usual despite allegations of sexual assault against its founder, Yehuda Meshi-Zahav.Zaka is a volunteer organization that recovers human remains following terrorist attacks, road accidents, and other catastrophic events resulting in loss of life.

Iran's Shipping Lines spokesman says that a Shahre Kord cargo ship was attacked by an explosive object In Wednesday in intl waters of the Mediterranean Sea. According to the report, the ship was en route to Europe."It's an act of terrorism," the spokesman says. "Iran will legally pursue it to find culprits."

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi: Israel reneged In an agreement with Jordan and then Netanyahu wanted to fly out of Jordan.(Arutz Sheva"s North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically In all Arutz Sheva articles, however, is Israeli time.)

There was a 15% rise in total credit card purchases today throughout Israel compared to last Friday.Credit card purchases reached 538 million shekels and the 12 o'clock hour was the peak time for such transactions.

Will the opportunity to make Aliyah last if the gates start closing?

Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed his esteem for the values of religious Zionism in a statement honoring the 18th annual Jerusalem conference sponsored by B'Sheva, a religious Zionist newspaper that appears each Friday.

Arutz Sheva's Israel desk is stopping its round-the-clock news updates of IsraelNationalNews.com at this time in honor of the Sabbath. Jerusalem candle lighting time is 17:05 In Friday. Our North American desk will keep you informed until the 17:42 EST candle lighting time in New York.The updates from Israel will resume Saturday night, following the conclusion of Shabbat at 18:22 in Jerusalem.Shabbat Shalom!