Archive for month: November, 2020

News Update

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The Health Ministry reported 985 new coronavirus cases on Sunday. There are currently 9,897 active cases of which 263 people are hospitalized in serious condition and 114 on ventilators. There have been 2,864 coronavirus related deaths since the start of the pandemic.

The head of the Israel Institute for Biological Research said that an Israeli made vaccine could be available in the summer. He criticized what he perceived as a lack of support for the institute’s efforts and the decision to acquire vaccines from foreign companies. He also blamed the abundance of government regulations for delaying the vaccine.

Bethlehem’s mayor and town leaders said that Christmas celebrations will take place this year, although with some restrictions due to the pandemic.

A source with the Lebanese military said today that an upcoming round of maritime border talks with Israel due to take place on Wednesday has been postponed. This comes after Israel accused Lebanon of changing its stance in the negotiations.

Tesla plans to begin selling its electric cars in Israel in the second half of 2021. All cars sold in Israel are imported by independent companies, but Tesla will sell directly, without any middleman. To read more about this click here.

The Israeli Defense Ministry is in negotiations to sell 29 retired F-16 fighter jets to a Canadian company. The deal is valued at $100 million and will be the largest of its kind ever. The planes will be used to simulated enemy attacks in air force training exercises in Canada, the US and Australia.

News Update

The Health Ministry reported 832 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday. There are currently 9,064 active cases of which 268 people are hospitalized in serious condition and 120 on ventilators. There have been 2,822 coronavirus related deaths since the start of the pandemic. The coronavirus cabinet voted to reopen schools in areas with low infection rates. Some indoor malls will also be allowed to open, on a one week trial basis.

Syrian sources are reporting that Israeli planes struck a military base south of Damascus last night, killing 8 pro-Iranian militants. The base houses Iranian Revolutionary Guards. Israeli planes also reportedly attacked a village near the Israeli border.

PM Netanyahu said yesterday that he spoke with the crown prince of Bahrain and would visit the Gulf state soon. Bahrain’s foreign minister visited Israel last week.

The U.S. Justice Department announced last Friday that Jonathan Pollard, the man imprisoned for 35 years for spying for Israel, had completed his parole. He is now free to leave the country. PM Netanyahu spoke to Pollard by phone yesterday and told him, “Your nightmare is over and you can come home to Israel” and We’re waiting for you.”

News Update

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

The Health Ministry reported 815 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday. There are currently 8,310 active cases of which 309 people are hospitalized in serious condition and 132 on ventilators. There have been 2,735 coronavirus related deaths since the start of the pandemic. Israel has signed an agreement with US vaccine maker Moderna for a million and a half doses and is negotiating for more.

Israeli warplanes struck military targets in southern Syria today, in response to explosive devices that were found planted on the Israeli side of the Golan Heights border. Targets included storage facilities and military compounds belonging to the Syrian army and to Iranian militias, as well as Syrian surface-to-air missile batteries. Ten people were killed, including Syrian soldiers and Iranian militiamen.

The IDF spokesman said, “This was a powerful strike. We attacked targets near the border and all the way to the Damascus area including a central command center of the Iranian forces deployed near the capital’s airport and a secret compound which houses high level Iranian visitors, just south of the city.” Additional Iron Dome batteries have been added in northern Israel.

Bahrain’s first official government delegation to Israel, led by Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al-Zayani, landed at Ben-Gurion Airport today on the first Gulf Air commercial flight to Tel Aviv. Al Zayani will meet with PM Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who is also in Israel on a visit.

President Reuven Rivlin and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan exchanged invitations yesterday to visit their respective countries.

President Rivlin and PM Netanyahu spoke on the phone with President-Elect Joe Biden yesterday. The conversation was reportedly “warm” with Biden reiterating his “deep commitment to Israel and its security.” The PM said that that the, “special bond between Israel and the U.S. is the basis for Israel’s security and its policies.” The two agreed to meet soon in order to discuss the many issues on the agenda and stressed the need to “continue strengthening the strong alliance between the United States and Israel.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Netanyahu refused to comment when asked in an interview on Israel Radio who he believed won the U.S. election. He said, “Why do I have to express an opinion. They have an internal process – the Electoral College. I think everybody more or less understands what… is apparently going to happen officially.”

The Palestinian Authority has resumed security and civil coordination with Israel. Hamas denounced the resumption of cooperation.

7-Eleven, the US convenience store chain, will soon be coming to Israel. Plans are to eventually open over 100 stores. The first stores will probably open in late 2021.

News Update

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

The Health Ministry reported 613 new coronavirus cases on Sunday. The contagion rate has risen to 2.7%. There are currently 7,767 active cases of which 294 people are hospitalized in serious condition and 130 on ventilators. There have been 2,732 coronavirus related deaths since the start of the pandemic.

The Israel Land Authority announced on its website Sunday that it had opened up tenders for more than 1,200 new homes in the strategic settlement of Givat Hamatos in east Jerusalem. Construction could then begin within months. Critics say construction in the settlement would seal off Bethlehem and the southern West Bank from east Jerusalem. It could also anger the incoming US administration, since President-Elect Biden has promised to resume relations with the Palestinian Authority and work towards a two-state solution, which would most likely include freezing all new settlement construction.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will visit the Psagot Winery, located about four miles southeast of the settlement of Psagot, which is just east of the city of Ramallah. This is the first time a US Secretary of State will travel to an Israeli settlement, exactly one year after he announced that Washington no longer considered settlements illegal. He will also be the first secretary of state to travel to the Golan Heights, which the US recognized as part of Israel in 2019. Pompeo’s 10-day tour of the region also includes stops in Turkey, Georgia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin announced yesterday that Israel would send its second astronaut into space at the end of 2021, when former IAF fighter pilot Eytan Stibbe will join a scientific mission to the International Space Station.

Minister of Justice Avi Nissenkorn has announced that he will promote the legalization of recreational cannabis use in Israel. From age 21, people will be allowed to use cannabis at home and at special stores.

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways, the second largest airline in the UAE after Emirates, has announced that it will begin operating daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv on March 28, 2021.