Govt authorizes 3-week lockdown starting 2p.m. Friday

Speaking at a conference held immediately prior to boarding his plane to fly to the United States, Prime Minister Netanyahu insisted that, "We were the first in the world to understand the danger posed by the coronavirus, and the number of those seriously ill is still Ine of the lowest in the world."

Prime Minister Netanyahu has insisted that schools will be closed for all grades in the first two weeks of the proposed lockdown, and that they will Inly reopen for the lower grades in the two weeks thereafter.His remarks were made at this afternoon's cabinet meeting at which lockdown proposals are to be decided upon.

Pressure to keep up with the UAE will lead more Arab countries to open up formal ties with Israel. Op-ed.

MK Yaakov Margi (Shas) has strongly criticized the Attorney-General, Avichai Mandelblit, for his opinion, given at today's cabinet meeting, that people "cannot be prevented from protesting.""If the attorney-general wants to except demonstrations from lockdown restrictions, then he has effectively decided to create anarchy here, where everyone decides for himself how to act," Margi said, as reported by Kikar Hashabbat."The upcoming High Holidays are far more important and holy than the right to incite," he added.

Gov't has authorized continuation of classes until Friday

According to a report in Yisrael Hayom, the Emirates airline company has announced that it will be permitting Israeli travel agents to reserve places in direct flights to the United Arab Emirates for Israeli citizens.

The government's coronavirus czar, Prof. Ronni Gamzu, has expressed his opposition to today's government decision to allow schools to remain open until Friday."A huge amount of infection is spread in schools," he said, explaining his reasoning.