Shalom and good evening, this is TV7 Israel
News broadcast to you from Jerusalem;
And in today’s top stories;
Following two-weeks of seeming’ decline
in the upward trend of newly confirmed corona-virus
cases throughout the state of Israel; it now
appears that an exponential rise has once
again taken hold.
A ramming and stabbing terror attack took
place earlier today at a military checkpoint
near Jerusalem.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Crops announced
this morning that it had successfully launched
its first military satellite into orbit
Following two-weeks of seeming’ decline
in the upward trend of newly confirmed coronavirus
cases throughout the state of Israel; it now
appears that an exponential rise has once
again taken hold.
Since the government’s decision to gradually
restart the economy on Sunday, the average
daily rise of newly diagnosed individuals
has averaged 5.4 percent from the total number
of confirmed cases.
While the difference between Sunday and Monday
indicated a .1 percent rise in the daily upward
trend, from 4.4 to 4.5 percent of newly verified
cases; Tuesday saw a leap of .7 percent, which
amounted to a daily rise of 5.2 percent, and
today it once again surged, this time by 2.4
percent in contrast to the previous day, with
a total increase of 7.6 percent.
It is important to highlight that these figures
are subject to fluctuating numbers of daily-tests
conducted by Israeli Health Authorities, which
vary between 9,419 to 12,281 – deeming it
increasingly challenging to provide accurate
trends based on the publicly acknowledged
data.
Nevertheless, the Israeli Health Ministry’s
latest collected data confirmed over the course
of the past 24 hours, another 1,051 Israelis
have been diagnosed as carriers of the corona
contagion, raising the total number to 14,326,
of whom 148 are in critical condition.
Furthermore, I am sad to report that another
three Israelis succumbed to the corona disease,
raising the total number of Israeli victims
to 187.
In contrast, I am glad to report that another
608 Israelis were healed from the contagion,
which is a considerable leap of 26.4 percent
of cured individuals since a day prior, raising
the total number of Israelis healed from the
coronavirus to 4,961.
Meanwhile;
In light of the partial ease from the restrictive
measures that were enacted by the government,
enforcement authorities have stepped up a
public relations campaign aimed at educating
Israel’s society on the importance of adhering
to measures that are still in effect.
While the majority of the general public are
reportedly complying with vital requirements
for social distancing and wearing protective
gear in the public sphere; thousands of police
officers, accompanied by IDF soldiers, have
been deployed throughout all of Israel’s
civilian communities, in a collective effort
of the Israel’s security establishment to
assure that individuals that have not yet
come to terms with the new restrictive reality,
do not endanger their surroundings.
(Sync A 4 1 00:01 – 00:15) It is important
to note that while there has been a partial
easement on public restrictions; the cabinet
in Jerusalem approved this morning a series
of emergency ordinances, including a general
nation-wide lockdown, on the days of memorial
and independence, similar to the lockdown
that was applied on the Jewish State during
the Biblical Feast of Passover.
Israel’s Memorial Day will be commemorated
next week on Tuesday, followed the next day
by Israel’s celebratory Day of Independence.
Turning now to the streets of Jerusalem, where;
Residents of the Israeli capital are generally
voicing their joy over the long-overdue establishment
of national emergency government.
Similar to the reactions we heard yesterday
in Tel Aviv, the residents of Jerusalem are
voicing hope that the united Israeli leadership
will now provide a concrete strategy for dealing
with the coronavirus crisis and its economic
implications in particular, as well as the
many other challenges the Jewish State continuously
faces in general.
"I'm very happy that we finally have a new
government, it's great to see after all this
time.
Let's hope that they can move us forward as
a country and as a world and that it will
be helpful for the Jewish state and that everyone
will find peace and tranquility and that this
difficult time will end soon."
"What do I think of the new government?
I think 'Thank God that we have a government,"
you know, and I think that's going to be...
we've been stressed in two ways - the virus
and the government.
And I think just knowing that we have a unity
government and hopefully it will work out,
maybe this will be a new model for the future
and maybe it will help satisfy more people,
you know, that's the hope."
Meanwhile, last night;
As the Holocaust Memorial Day came to an end,
Israeli Parliament Speaker Benny Gantz held
a televised address, which focused on the
reasons behind his decision to establish a
national emergency government together with
Premier Benjamin Netanyahu – in addition
to his hopes and aspirations for the future.
In the face of growing criticism from his
previous political partners, who vigorously
accuse Gantz of pursuing a path of political
opportunism, the Israeli Parliament speaker
responded by insisting that times of crisis
cannot justify the continuation of Jerusalem’s
political deadlock.
“There are those who wanted to keep rolling
to more and more election campaigns and maybe
feel righteous.
There are those who would rather win in politics
than beat the Corona crisis.
My friends and I could not stand idly by.
We have chosen to preserve the democracy and
fight against the Corona and its consequences.”
“For me, knowing that leaders first think
about the citizens, and place the common good
before their personal interests has never
changed and will never change.
This is what motivated me to enter the political
field and this is what lead my decision to
strive for an emergency and unity government.”
Gantz went on to emphasize his hope that the
newly established government would ultimately
serve as a source for much needed unity among
Israel’s diverse society.
“The greatest achievement this government
may attain is that unity will permeate and
a national reconciliation cabinet will act
and promote peace within us.
This is the most important thing in this moment
for the Israeli society.”
The Israeli parliament speaker further highlighted
the initial steps in order to combat the coronavirus
crisis, and many implications.
“In the next six months, the government
will focus on co-leading the national fight
against the Coronavirus.
For this purpose, we will establish a Corona
Cabinet immediately after the government's
inauguration, which I believe, unfortunately,
will function for a long time.
In this forum, all relevant ministers and
best professionals will sit around one table.
Together, we will provide the public with
accurate and necessary information.
We will provide answers to the entire economy.”
Turning now to the West Bank city of Jericho,
where;
Palestinian Authority chief negotiator Saeb
Erekat reacted to the newly established Israeli
government, which he said, is at a critical
juncture that will ultimately impact the future
of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"To form the new coalition government in Israel
puts this government in front of two options.
Option number one is to agree and to announce
its commitment to agreements signed and negotiations
and peace based on implementation of what
we signed together to reach an agreement based
on the two-state solution, 1967 lines and
international law and that is doable by the
two parties.
And the second option is to go the path of
dictation, settlements, and annexation.
If they move in the path of annexation and
dictation that means that this government
would have killed any prospect for negotiated
settlements between Palestinians and Israelis
and they would be fully responsible for the
collapse of the whole idea of peace."
While the Palestinian negotiator talks about
Israel’s responsibly for the possible collapse
of the whole idea of what he perceives as
“peace,” a Palestinian assailant committed
a terror attack at a military checkpoint near
Jerusalem.
TV7 obtained security footage from the reported
incident, which shows the assailant ram his
vehicle into a border police officer, after
which the Palestinian assailant exited the
vehicle and rushed to attack the officer with
scissors in hand.
Two other officers then opened fire toward
the assailant, immediately “neutralizing
the threat.”
Israel Police spokesperson Micky Rosenfeld
told TV7 that “an explosive device was uncovered
in the vehicle of the terrorist.”
He further said that the border police officer
was transferred in moderate condition to a
Jerusalem hospital for further treatment.
Turning now to the Islamic Republic of Iran,
where;
The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Crops announced
this morning that it had successfully launched
its first military satellite into orbit.
According to the Revolutionary Guard’s statement,
‘the satellite, which was titled ‘Noor’
– meaning light in both Persian and Arabic
– is currently orbiting 425 kilometers,
or 264 miles, above the earth’s surface.
Footage released from the launch showed the
satellite carrier was inscribed with a verse
of the Koran, which Muslims often recite when
travelling.
It reads: "Glory to Him who has subjected
this to us, as we could never have done it
by our own efforts."
Despite the claimed success of the launch,
TV7 is currently investigating whether the
reported launch was indeed successful.
If so, it would mean that the Islamic Republic
has attained a significant tool in its evident
pursuit to develop nuclear weapons.
Thank you for watching us.
As part of TV7’s global prayer initiative,
I would like to encourage you to join myself
and the team here in Jerusalem to pray today
for the peace and salvation of the Philippines,
alongside our ongoing prayers for the peace
of Jerusalem, the peace and salvation of Israel,
as well as for all those who are impacted
by the corona contagion world-wide.
I’m Jonathan Hessen, have an Erev Tov, and
we will see you again tomorrow, at the same
time.
For more information on Israel and its region
visit our website at WWW.TV7ISRAELNEWS.COM
