Bennett tells HMOs he expects approval by Thursday night; reports suggest booster vaccine drive will be expanded to over-50s first, over-40s shortly after

Passengers removed from flight and detained, then released on bail and fined, with possibility of further punishment under consideration; US authorities informed

Coronavirus infections are very low in the community, but officials fear lack of immunization could lead to a serious outbreak, especially among Bedouins

Amid COVID spike, PM and health officials agree anyone unvaccinated and older than 3 will need negative test result to enter most events, leisure activities

As government desperately tries to galvanize 1.1 million who are spurning vaccine, data shows that severe cases also far higher among younger people if they aren't inoculated

Principals say they don't know if students are meant to be tested for COVID under pilot program; Education Ministry director: Vaccinations OK in schools but not during school hours

Minority lags behind Jewish counterparts, with some 51% inoculated, compared to 66% of all Israeli citizens; though only one Arab town among 26 in country designated as 'red' area

Austria, Czech Republic and Moldova will be only destinations from which travelers won’t be required to isolate upon their return to Israel

$31 million set aside for various efforts to inoculate over 1 million unvaccinated, but legal hurdles remain; health officials say 600-700 seriously ill would trigger lockdown

Serious cases dip slightly; ambulance service to set up rapid testing stations around country as Green Pass restrictions tightened