* Coronavirus cases continue to surge with 1,871 new cases confirmed Wednesday: The IDFs Center for Knowledge and Information says by midnight on Wednesday Israel saw 1,871 new coronavirus cases with a 6.87% positive rate out of 24,410 tests conducted. As of Friday morning, 384 people have died from COVID-19. There 202 people in serious condition being treated in hospital with 58 on ventilators. (Yediot Ahronot, Haaretz)
* Cabinet announces new restrictions to stem renewed coronavirus outbreak: Following a government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the cabinet approved the following restrictions as coronavirus cases continue to mount. On weekends all shops, malls, beauty salons, hairdressers, and other non-essential supplies would be closed while shops offering food, drug and other essential supplies would remain open. On all days, gatherings will be limited to 10 people indoors and 20 outdoors and restaurants would be allowed to serve take-out only, and pools and gyms would be closed. Beaches will close starting next weekend. Government offices - 50% of staff will work outside the office or be put on leave. (Yediot Ahronot, Haaretz)
* Two Israeli Protest Movements Join Forces After Police Deny Demonstration Permit: Several of the organizations representing self-employed Israelis announced that they would join the protest of the so-called Black Flag movement in Tel Aviv’s Charles Clore Park on Saturday, after police refused to allow them to demonstrate at a different location, citing coronavirus restrictions. (Haaretz, Yediot Ahronot)
* Israel Drafts Secret List of Hundreds of Officials Who May Stand Trial at International Court: Israel is drawing up a secret list of military and intelligence officials who might be subject to arrest abroad if the International Criminal Court in the Hague opens an investigation into alleged Israeli war crimes in the Palestinian territories. (Haaretz)
* Immigration to Israel Down Almost 50% in the First Half of 2020 Amid Coronavirus Crisis: The number of immigrants arriving in Israel in the first half of the year was down nearly 50 percent, compared with the same period last year, according to figures compiled by the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration. The sharp downturn has been attributed to the global pandemic. (Haaretz)
