Archive for month: June, 2020

News Update

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The Health Ministry reported last night that 118 new cases of coronavirus have been detected in the last 24 hours in various Israeli cities and towns.  87 schools and kindergartens have closed thus far. Daily virus testing has also reached its highest levels.

An IDF Lt. Colonel was accidentally shot and wounded by another commander during a live fire exercise at Tze’elim Army Base in southern Israel on Wednesday evening. The exercise was part of a special officer training course for company and regiment commanders. On Tuesday, the course participants chased after Bedouin youths who tried to steal military equipment from the base, and were then surrounded by friends of the thieves and several civilian jeeps. A confrontation erupted between the two parties, and one of the officers fired into the air to cause the group to step back.

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, speaking at an online event organized by the Jewish Democratic Council of America, said that an Israeli unilateral annexation of parts of the West Bank, “undermines US national security interests, our interests.” Pelosi also criticized the Palestinian leadership and said that she wished they could be better negotiating partners. Former VP Joe Biden has also said that he opposes any unilateral Israeli annexation.

Business market intelligence company Zoominfo went public yesterday (Nasdaq: ZI) and raised $935 million at a company valuation of $8 billion. The company, headquartered in the US, has some Israel cofounders and a development center in Ra’anana with 150 employees. The company’s share price rose 62% on its first day of trading from $21 to $34, giving it a market cap of $13 billion.

News Update

To listen to an audio version click here. (for supporters)

With hundreds of new cases of coronavirus reported throughout the country since last week, more schools are being forced to close and the Education Ministry is considering integrating distance learning to reduce student attendance.

An employee in the Prime Minister’s Office has tested positive for COVID-19, which could send the PM, the Finance Minister and the Education Minister into quarantine.

Israeli soccer teams resumed play over the weekend, in stadiums without fans. But hundreds of fans gathered outside a Tel Aviv stadium yesterday to celebrate the victory of Hapoel Tel Aviv over Beitar Jerusalem. There was zero social distancing. Health officials are investigating the incident.

A Jordanian military court is trying 5 Jordanians suspected of planning suicide terror attacks against Israelis in the West Bank. The suspects were arrested in February.

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has ruled that Americans wounded and killed in seven attacks carried out by Palestinians in Israel were eligible for damages from Iran and Syria because those countries provided “material support” to militant groups Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The court has not yet determined the amount of the damages. It’s unclear how the damages would be collected. American courts have ordered the government of Iran to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in damages to families of Americans killed by Palestinian terrorists before, but no money has ever been collected.

According to a new poll by the Israel Democracy Institute, 50% of Israelis support the annexation of parts of Judea and Samaria (West Bank) and 30% are against it. Israel’s security chiefs will meet today to discuss possible scenarios that could occur as a result of the planned annexation.

Over 200 demonstrators gathered outside the U.S. consulate in Tel Aviv yesterday to protest the killing of George Floyd.

News Update

To listen to an audio version click here. (for supporters)

As Israel continues to open up and return to some degree of “normalcy”, cases of coronavirus are beginning to rise, although in very small numbers. On Friday 133 new cases were reported, the highest number since the beginning of May. There were 53 new confirmed cases over the weekend. Public transportation is thought to be a major factor in the transmission of the virus.

There have also been cases of infection in several schools throughout the country, sending thousands of students, teachers and families into quarantine. The Health Ministry is calling on Israelis to get tested if they are sick or have been near someone who was sick. The ministry currently can conduct 15,000 tests a day.

According to a report in Israel Hayom today, Israel and Saudi Arabia have been holding secret talks since December of 2019, brokered by the US, regarding placing Saudi representatives on the Islamic Waqf responsible for administering the Muslim holy sites on the Temple Mount.

An airstrike in eastern Syria on Sunday killed five Iranian-backed militiamen in 3 military vehicles. Israel is thought to be responsible for the attack.

The US ambassador to Lebanon said yesterday that the US will impose new sanctions against Hezbollah, starting immediately.

According to a new survey of 400 Israeli startups, in a broad range of industries, a large percentage are suffering from a shortage of finance and from a substantial decline in sales, and are being forced to cut manpower and pay. Many are dealing with the danger of closing altogether. To read more about this click here.