Special Coverage

Likud MK David Bitan receiving respiratory support, a week after testing positive for coronavirus.

Positivity rate stands at 3.4% as 1,707 additional carriers diagnosed with virus. Israel currently has 17,691 confirmed active cases. There are 353 people in serious condition, 100 of whom are on ventilators.

Innovation described as "tremendous breakthrough is nothing less than a game changer" because it allows to monitor several patients simultaneously.

"The increase is troubling in light of the stabilizing trend the sector has shown in recent weeks," one ministry official says.

Israel Hayom poll finds over one-third of Israelis, 37%, to refuse to receive coronavirus vaccine. Just 35% of Arab Christians and Arab Muslims, 26% of Haredim say they plan to get vaccinated. Older Israelis, secular Jews most likely to get the vaccine.

In a 17-4 vote with one abstention, government advisers conclude vaccine from Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech appears safe and effective for emergency use in adults and teenagers 16 and over. American Academy of Pediatrics president hails US Food and Drug Administration endorsement as “a light at the end of the long tunnel of this pandemic.”

Likud maintains lead over rivals but could face a harder time forming a stable coalition, poll finds. Blue and White is in freefall, Labor still fails to pass the electoral threshold.

Ministers convene to discuss imposing new restrictions that would ban individuals from being inside another person's home between the hours of 5:30 pm and midnight. Violations of the curfew to incur 500 shekel fine, according to Health Ministry proposal aimed at preventing people from gathering in small spaces over the Hanukkah holiday.

Radio poll projects 25 Knesset seats for Likud, 19 for Yamina, 14 for Yesh Atid, and only six for Blue and White. Gideon Sa'ar's currently unnamed party stands to become the third-largest faction in parliament.

Speaking at Ben Gurion Airport, PM Netanyahu declares the end of the pandemic is "in sight," says that, seeking to serve as an example to the public, he will be vaccinated first.