On Sunday afternoon, a Chareidi man nearly drowned at Gils beach in Ashdod after he rushed into the water to save his children who were struggling and about to drown. The children were caught in an undertow and being swept out to the ocean and were unable to return to the beach safely. The father managed to rescue the children, but then got pulled out to the sea himself. Volunteers from United Hatzalah and ambulance teams from Magen David Adom responded to the emergency after they were called to the scene by onlookers who witnessed the incident. The man was rescued and brought to the beach where he was treated for partially drowning before being taken to Assuta Hospital in the city.

The Shin Bet stated on Sunday that it has arrested the terrorist involved in the exchange of fire in the Gaza Strip that killed Maj. Eliraz Peretz and St.-Sgt. Ilan Sviatkovsky ten years ago. The terrorist, who has been identified as Abdullah Dama, 38, a resident of Rafah in the Gaza Strip, was arrested on July 7. “During his interrogation by the Shin Bet in cooperation with the Israel Police, it emerged that Abdullah was involved in a murderous attack that took place on March 26, 2010, on the border fence in the Gaza Strip, near the settlements of Nirim and Ein Hashlosha,” the Shin Bet stated. Peretz and Sviatkovsky were part of the Golani’s 12th Battalion.

A designated headquarters to stem the spread of the coronavirus in Chareidi areas was launched on Sunday morning under the direction of the coronavirus czar, Prof. Ronni Gamzu. Gamzu held a meeting about the establishment of the headquarters on Friday with Chareidi representatives of the cities of Jerusalem, Ashdod, Elad, Bnei Brak, Modi’in Illit, Beit Shemesh and Beitar Illit and senior Home Front Command officials. Maj.-Gen. Roni Numa, currently head of the Central Command, is overseeing the program. The headquarters, which will be in operation 24/7, will be staffed with members of the Home Front Command, Israel Police and Israel’s four Kupot Cholim. Each city will be represented by a director who will report to the mayor.

IDF soldiers fired mortar shells into Gaza following gunfire at Israelis civilian workers on the Gaza border fence. “Earlier today, the sound of gunfire toward workers on the border fence in the southern Gaza Strip was heard,” the IDF stated. “The work on the fence was stopped and mortars were fired [to create a smokescreen to evacuate the workers]. Afterward, more gunfire from Gaza was directed at IDF soldiers who rushed to the area. There were no injuries.” The work on the security barrier has been temporarily halted due to the attacks. Following the incident, the Eshkol Regional Council announced that all agricultural work near the perimeter fence has been suspended and all roads to the fence have been blocked by the IDF.

A growing coalition crisis between Likud and Blue & White peaked on Sunday morning when the scheduled cabinet meeting on Sunday morning was canceled for the first time in years. The crisis began with Likud’s insistence on establishing a one-year budget rather than the two-year budget agreed on in the Likud/Blue and White coalition agreement. Likud says that due to the coronavirus crisis, it’s impossible to make a two-year budget since it’s yet unknown how the coronavirus will affect the economy over such a long period. Blue and White want to stick to the coalition agreement, fearing that Netanyahu is aiming to dissolve the government before Gantz gets his chance to serve as prime minister.

Following Israel’s announcement last week that is planning on opening its skies on August 16, a Channel 12 News report revealed some of the plan’s details. The Israeli government has contacted 13 countries that are likely to allow Israeli tourists into their countries despite Israel’s current status as a “red country.” These countries include Greece, Italy, Cyprus, Jordan, Latvia, Finland, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Germany and Austria. Currently, Israelis are allowed to enter the United States and Ukraine. Travelers into Israeli from “green countries” will not be required to quarantine. Those from “red countries” will be required to quarantine but the quarantine period will likely be shortened from the current 14 days.

Israel’s Health Ministry reported 1,753 new coronavirus cases as of Motzei Shabbos in the previous 24 hours. There are currently 24,617 active cases, with 389 patients in serious condition, of whom 106 are ventilated. Eleven fatalities were recorded in the previous 24 hours, raising the death toll to 592. The Health Ministry is considering shortening the quarantine period for Israelis who were in contact with a confirmed coronavirus carrier from 14 days to 12 days, Ynet reported. The shortened quarantine period would have a positive effect on Israel”s economy.

Mayor Bill de Blasio told New Yorkers Thursday they don’t need to buy a new car. “The future of New York City is less about the car,” de Blasio said. “I’m never going to own a car again.” De Blasio — who is chauffeured around New York City in a tax dollar-funded SUV — advised New Yorkers Thursday not to fear the subways amid the global novel coronavirus pandemic. “My advice to New Yorkers is, ‘Do not buy a car,” de Blasio said. “Cars are the past, the future is going to be mass transit, biking, walking.” READ MORE: NY1

YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of HaRav Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz ZT”L. He was 83. Rav Steinsaltz had been hospitalized with a lung infection and his condition deteriorated until his passing early Friday morning. The kevura was held on Har HaZeisim. Rabbi Steinsaltz served as the president of Yeshivat Makor Chaim and Yeshivat Tekoa. He has written an easy to understand explanation of the Gemara as well as a host of other sefarim. His lifelong work in Jewish education earned him the Israel Prize, the highest honor in the State of Israel. In all, Rabbi Steinsaltz authored over 60 books and hundreds of articles on a multitude of subjects. Born in Jerusalem in 1937 to secular parents, Rabbi Steinsaltz studied physics and chemistry at the Hebrew University.

Israel’s national lab, the Defense Ministry’s Israel Institute for Biological Research (IIBR) in Nes Tziona, will begin clinical trials on humans for a coronavirus vaccine after Sukkos. “The successful preliminary trials kindle great hope,” Defense Minister Benny Gantz stated on Thursday. “The next step, as agreed, is the beginning of human trials after the Tishrei Chagim. This will be done in coordination with the Health Ministry and according to all requirements.” Gantz visited the institute on Thursday and spoke with its director, Prof. Shmuel Shapira, about recent “advancements in the development of the vaccine and antibodies for the coronavirus,” his office said. The institute’s preliminary trials on golden Syrian hamsters were successful, proving the effectiveness of the vaccine.