Government to Impose New Restrictions Amidst Concerns Over Rapid Spread of Omicron Variant: following public criticism over “zigzagging” on how to respond to the spike in new cases, the corona cabinet voted on several new measures designed to curb the spread of the new variant. These include expanding the list of “red countries”, extending the entry ban to all tourists except for Birthright groups, applying strict “purple badge” regulations in shopping malls and “green pass” regulations in food courts, and restaurants in malls. The cabinet also voted for distance learning in orange and red cities with high numbers of new cases and low numbers of inoculated pupils, but the decision was overturned by the government, following resistance from parents. The Israeli Center for Disease Control recommended to the cabinet that a fourth booster jab be given to people over 60, medical staff and those with suppressed immune systems, pending approval from the Helsinki committee (the ethical forum for the medical system). As these new restrictions are expected to take effect in the coming days, members of the corona cabinet said that a lockdown may be inevitable, should the rapid spread of the virus continue.
Far Right MK Ben-Gvir Pulls a Gun at Arab Guards in Tel Aviv Parking Lot: Ben Gvir was issued a gun by the Knesset Security Officer, after he claimed to have received threats. Footage from the parking lot of the exhibition gardens event venue captured Ben Gvir, accompanied by his driver and Bentzi Gopstein, Chair of the Lehava (Flame) far right group, waving the pistol at two Arab security guards. Ben Gvir claimed that he felt threatened by the two security guards, who in turn denied making any threats prior to the incident. The guards and Ben Gvir both gave open statements to the police, and Ben Gvir was summoned by the Knesset Security Officer. The security guards, residents of East Jerusalem, filed a formal complaint against MK Ben-Gvir.
The Terrorist Attack that Killed a Jewish Yeshiva Man Continues to Echo: President Herzog paid a visit to the bereaved family, during which he was recorded promising that he will convey their message not to evacuate the Yeshiva where their son was studying. The yeshiva is located in a settlement that was evacuated by the government as part of the disengagement plan back in 2005, when all Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip were evacuated, plus a few in the northern West Bank. Since the evacuation there has been an on going clash between the IDF (Israel Defense Force) and the settlers who insist on continuing to keep the yeshiva active and occupied, against the law. The yeshivah is located deep in the Palestinian territories and on private Palestinian lands. After the murder there were concentrated visits to the venue, including MKs (members of Knesset) from the extreme right-wing party, and extremist settlers were documented physically attacking Israeli soldiers who tried to evacuate them. On Thursday, at the end of the Shiva (the Jewish mourning ritual) thousands marched to the Yeshiva, against the law, led by MKs’, the army forced the Palestinian residents to stay at home. Some of the people were seen attacking a Palestinian villagers on the way. Their main target now is to make the government agree to their presence there, as a kind of revenge payback resulting from the terrorist attack. Meanwhile the police arrested the head of the yeshiva for violating the disengagement law that banned him from operating in the place that was evacuated in 2005.
Leader of Mizrahi Orthodox Party Shas, Arye Deri, Received a Plea Deal in which He Will Admit to Tax Fraud, Pay a Fine and Resign from the Knesset: Deri is a veteran of the law enforcement system. In 1999 he was sentenced to three years in prison for charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust while serving in office as a minister.
The new plea deal is the outcome of a long criminal investigation, and generated a wave of criticism for the relatively light punishment for what seems to be serial offenses. The attorney general claimed that he did not have enough hard evidence that would enable him to consolidate a solid criminal case against Deri. The attorney general still has to decide if the deal will include a ban on Deri holding any public position in the future, including running for office.
With No Incoming Christian Tourism, Cities in Israel, and the West Bank Prepare for Christmas: for the second year in a row, due to COVID-19, Christmas celebrations in Christian communities in Israel and the West Bank will be low-key. With no incoming Christian tourism due to the entry ban, and with a travel ban to an extended list of “red countries”, visitors to Nazareth, one of Israel’s most important Christian localities, will mostly be Jewish Israelis who will enjoy “a Christmas getaway” close to home. In a Christmas gesture, Israel announced that it will allow Christians residing in Gaza to travel to Bethlehem for the holiday. Bethlehem, Nazareth, Haifa, Jaffa and other cities in Israel with a Christian population were beautifully and richly adorned.
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