Health and finance ministries pledge to hire 2,000 new nurses and 400 more doctors, spend billions on equipment; 1,641 new virus cases diagnosed over past day

Economy could contract by 5.9%-7.2% this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic; ministry forecasts budget deficit of 13%-14.2% of GDP

PM has always sought to sideline competing ministers and make all the decisions himself; that strategy served him well in the first wave of the virus, but then he got distracted

Finance Ministry's director pushes back against claims bureaucrats holding up aid; minister Katz said to suspend funds for needy to prevent them from reaching refugee groups

After Likud MK accuses Shaul Meridor of 'torpedoing' PM's decisions, premier says 'it's inconceivable that bureaucrats... are working to thwart' his latest financial aid proposal

Amit Yaron says government could have taken better, more effective steps to direct money to those who need it most, predicts economy will continue to slide

Blue and White, finance officials pan economic rescue package over its universal disbursements, high cost, as premier contends with tide of anger over handling of crisis

Widely panned plan will see all citizens receive checks for at least NIS 750 from the government amid economic crisis, continued rise in new infections

Plan, which requires Knesset approval to change relevant laws, will extend unemployment benefits, provide grants for businesses and self-employed

Despite approval of payments up to NIS 7,500, many to get less than NIS 2,000; welfare chief slams top treasury official for being 'out of touch' with suffering of the people