Defense minister responds to left-wing party's concerns about illegal outposts, settler violence and reports Israeli cyber tech was used against dissidents, journalists abroad

Nitzan Horowitz predicts rise in serious cases, but aims to reopen schools in fall; ministers to meet Thursday, but reportedly won't mandate isolation for all returning travelers

Active COVID-19 infections surge to nearly 8,000, but serious cases remain at around 60; health minister says 'Green Pass' and quarantine for all returnees being discussed

With morbidity soaring, minister Nitzan Horowitz to push for reintroducing Green Pass system for events of over 100 people to avoid further restrictions in the future

If approved, guests at large indoor events will be required to present a vaccination certificate or a negative test; health officials said to feel step insufficient

Health minister agrees to give preference to union's demands in talks with Finance Ministry; strike led to build up of trash in medical centers, raising hygiene concerns

Infections appear to plateau; top health official Sharon Alroy-Preis gets health minister's support after report suggests education minister seeking her ouster

Ministers presented with predictions that serious COVID-19 cases could hit 1,000 in five weeks' time; patterns of serious illness similar to previous waves

PM says Israel can avert another closure if rules heeded, urges Israelis to cancel trips abroad, blames renewed outbreak on the previous government's 'serious neglect'

Salman Zarka, a Bedouin professor, is already on COVID-19 advisory panel; he served in IDF for 25 years and oversaw field hospital that treated Syrian civil war wounded