Health minister and virus czar cite rising rate of new cases stemming from each infection; Finance Minister lauds move, after nearly two months of being shuttered

Hundreds of small companies and thousands of independent workers reportedly received grants they had not qualified for and will now be forced to give money back

Disagreements reported as ministers meet to decide on lockdown exit plan; Netanyahu hails tremendous achievements of closure, but small businesses say government has abandoned them

In further insult, owner fined by city: 'It's all caused by mental and economic desperation," says Avi Samay. 'If I'm going to lose everything, at least others should benefit' 

'Fear of fines? I'm afraid my landlord will throw me to the street,' exclaims a worker; another says government stipends can't even cover her rent

Ministers call to ease closure, reopen small businesses, preschools and airport, as infection rate appears to stabilize a week into lockdown

Opposition MKs say cabinet left out clause allowing up to 10 people in an office because it would have undermined 'emergency' status used to curb anti-PM rallies

'Leave me alone! I have three kids to feed,' Avi Haimov tells inspectors who issue him a NIS 500 fine for folded tables outside shop

Latest round of grants to help Israelis weather the economic hardships of the pandemic will have stricter conditions than previous stipends

As pandemic-era videoconferencing gives an intimate glimpse of what's on people's shelves, Ken Gloss, owner of the 185-year-old Brattle Book Shop, offers to update your stacks