* Israel reports 589 new cases of coronavirus: The Health Ministry reported on Thursday that 589 Israelis have tested positive for coronavirus out of 99,841 tests carried out over the past 24 hours, putting Israel's contagion rate at 0.65%. Israeli hospitals were treating 93 COVID-19 patients in serious condition, 55 of whom were connected to ventilators. Since the onset of the pandemic, 8,210 Israelis succumbed to the disease. (Yediot Ahronot, Haaretz)
* Israel Extends COVID Entry Ban for Foreigners, Weighs Europe Travel Restrictions: Israel has extended its COVID travel restrictions, including an entry ban for foreigners, by another 10 days in an effort to curb the spread of the omicron variant, the Health Ministry announced Thursday. The extension takes effect on Sunday, meaning these regulations will be in place until December 22, when the government may decide to extend them further. The decision was made by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz in coordination with health officials and COVID cabinet members, the Health Ministry said. (Haaretz, Yediot Ahronot)
* Israel hopes Iran nuclear talks won't result in agreement, UN envoy says: Israel hopes the ongoing talks between Iran and world powers won't result in a revival of the tattered 2015 nuclear pact, Jerusalem's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Gilad Erdan said on Friday at the Israeli-American Council (IAC) annual summit in Miami, Florida. Erdan added he expected world powers to reimpose strict international sanctions on Iran as was the case prior to the signing of the original agreement, including an arms sale embargo, in case talks end up falling through. (Yediot Ahronot, Haaretz)
* Bennett Apologizes to Diaspora Jews for Shutting Down Israel’s Borders: Prime Minister Naftali Bennett reached out to pacify North American Jewish leaders Wednesday, following Israel’s decision to close its borders to all foreigners last month following the discovery of a new COVID variant. He expressed sympathy for the “severe hardship and disruption” caused by the move. “I deeply regret any pain felt by you and those in your community, who are cherished members of our global Jewish family,” Bennett wrote in a letter to Mark Wilf and Eric Fingerhut, the chairman and president, respectively, of the Jewish Federations of North America. (Haaretz)
* Ex-Mossad Chief to Receive $500,000 for Fundraising Tours for Israel: Recently retired Mossad director Yossi Cohen is set to receive half a million dollars for two speaking tours across Europe and Australia on behalf of Keren Hayesod, the fundraising arm of the State of Israel, the Walla news website reported on Thursday. According to the report, Cohen – who faces accusations of ethics violations – will receive roughly $250,000 per trip from the organization, which frequently hosts events abroad featuring former Israeli officials. While in Europe this October, he spoke at gatherings in Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and Monaco. (Haaretz)
