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Harav Aharon Dovid GOP White House Hopefuls Wait Britain Starts Mass
23 Kislev 5781// December 9, 2020 Chodosh, Zt”l To See What Trump Does Next COVID-19 Vaccination

VOL. XXIII - NO. 1138

‫ךהה‬‎‫ח‬‎‫ממהעהעררטטבבמהמהןןממהןהןאאהוהוררחחוודדווששחך‬

Chanukah Curfew Draws Harsh Criticism;
First Batch of Vaccines Set to Arrive

YERUSHALAYIM — A three-week night- enough to avoid a third national lock- of the Gregorian-calendar holidays, open during the day in accordance with
time curfew, scheduled to go into effect down. to enable people to celebrate without prior restrictions, as will permitted
tonight, has been harshly criticized for restriction, Israel has timed it to perfec- hotels in Eilat and the Dead Sea.
being timed to coincide with Chanukah “Once again, the authorities chose to tion, like ahead of the Tishrei chagim.”
and for having little chance of bringing attack chagei Yisrael,” said one chareidi Coronavirus czar Professor Nachman
down the coronavirus infection rate representative. “While in other coun- Malls, shopping centers, museums,
tries, they had their lockdowns ahead cultural events and schools will remain P. 10

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10 BREAKING 23 Kislev 5781// December 9, 2020

Israeli Flag High Court Justice to Retire
Spotted
on Bridge SARA MARCUS Miriam Alster/Flash90
In Tehran
Supreme Court Justice Men- Justice Menachem Mazuz
C. ISAACS achem Mazuz announced this week
Twitter/@Lenny Ben-David that he’ll be stepping down in April His departure from the court,
YERUSHALAYIM — This picture of an 2021, citing personal reasons. together with that of Hanan Melcer,
Israeli flag displayed on a bridge in Teh- The flag displayed on a Tehran also scheduled for April, could lead
ran, accompanied by a banner reading bridge Monday night. Mazuz was appointed to the court to a shift in the 15-panel court,
“Thank you, Mossad,” appeared in the in 2014, and was expected to serve toward a more conservative orien-
social media overnight on Monday. until his retirement age in 2025. tation.

The thank you relates to the assas- In a statement, he thanked his
sination of Iranian nuclear scientist fellow judges “for the opportunity
Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, which Iranian to serve alongside them and contrib-
o cials have blamed on Israel. ute to advancing the rule of law in
Israel and to protecting the values of
The flag was reportedly raised on democracy.”
a bridge in the Pars neighborhood of
Iran’s capital. Mazuz’s rulings consistently put
him on the far left of the political
map. He ruled against the IDF when it
sought to demolish terrorists’ homes
as a deterrent.

Report: New Roads Pave Way for Major Population
Growth in Yehudah and Shomron

YERUSHALAYIM (AP) — In the coming overpasses designed to bypass Pales- “People don’t bring roads, roads bring Oded Revivi, the mayor of Efrat,
years, Israelis will be able to commute tinian villages and refugee camps. people,” he said. who attended the meeting, said the
to Yerushalayim and Tel Aviv from draft plan was “very thorough,” and
communities deep inside Yehudah The new roads promise to allevi- His findings are based on minutes from that the ministry was open to sugges-
and Shomron via highways, tunnels ate the hazards of driving by Palestin- several meetings held in recent years by tions, “taking into account the needs
and overpasses that cut a wide berth ian-populated areas where rock-throw- parliamentary subcommittees charged of both populations, both the Jews and
around Palestinian towns. ing and terrorist gunfire are always a with improving infrastructure. He also the Arabs.”
threat. The current construction would cites a strategic plan presented by Trans-
Construction already is underway change all that, transforming Israeli portation Minister Miri Regev (Likud) to He said that U.S. President Donald
on a huge tunnel that will one day allow towns into a ordable suburban com- a group of mayors last month. Trump’s Mideast plan, which would
residents from Maaleh Adumim, a city munities with safe, easy access to cities allow Israel to annex about a third of
just east of Yerushalayim, to drive into and public transportation. In a statement after the meeting, Yehudah and Shomron, including all
the city and onward to Tel Aviv with- Regev called it “an exciting day for the the Jewish areas, had proven that they
out passing through a military check- Yehudah Shaul, a left-wing activist settlements and for the State of Isra- are not an obstacle to peace.
point or even hitting a traffic light. who has spent months researching and el, which builds and is building in all
mapping out the new projects, estimates areas of the homeland.” She said it pro- That plan was immediately rejected
South of Yerushalayim, work is the new infrastructure could facilitate vided a “holistic vision” for “a future by the Palestinians and is likely to be
underway to expand the main highway plans for more than 50,000 housing units development plan for the region.” scrapped by Democrat Joe Biden, who
leading to the Gush Etzion bloc and in Yehudah and Shomron and another opposes annexation of Jewish commu-
towns farther south, with tunnels and 6,000 in eastern Yerushalayim. The Transportation ministry did not nities in Yehudah and Shomron.
respond to requests for comment.

Chanukah Curfew Draws Harsh Criticism the government response to the pan-
Continued from page 1 spreads the coronavirus. The consen- happen at night. So that very greatest demic, suggested tightening restric-
sus among experts is that this decision reduction you could have is R 0.1, and tions, including closure of stores and
Ash doubted the e cacy of the Chanu- doesn’t make sense and that it under- that would require completely ending other businesses that accept customers.
kah curfew, saying it will not cause a mines the public’s faith.” all contact, including unauthorized wed- Should the cases continue to rise, topping
“significant change in the immediate dings and Chanukah celebrations, which 4,500 per day by Jan. 2, Israel will enter
run.” Senior Health Ministry o cials told would just move from the night to the its third nationwide lockdown, according
Channel 13 that the curfew “won’t help daytime hours. to media reports.
Other senior health o cials were reduce the infection coe cient to below
scathing in their criticism of the cur- 1, which is what is needed.” “Instead of a nightly curfew, they The death toll since the start of the
few. Professor Hagai Levine, an epide- need to crack down on weddings and pandemic is 2,924.
miologist from Hebrew University and “Our recommendation is to adopt a mass gatherings being held in violation
Hadassah Medical Center and the chief plan for tightening restrictions,” the o - of the rules — rules which haven’t been It was also reported Monday that the
of Israel’s doctors’ union, called it a “new cials said, referring to proposals by the enforced for a while now.” first shipment of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vac-
low” in the government’s handling of the ministry to close schools and businesses cine will arrive in Israel tomorrow. Some
crisis. in areas with high infection rates. The Health Ministry reported yes- 100,000 are expected, accompanied by
terday that 1,837 new coronavirus cases a large delegation from Pfizer. A larger
“This decision is impossible to under- Professor Eran Segal of the Weizmann were diagnosed on Monday, the high- shipment is slated to arrive on Friday.
stand,” he told Channel 13. “It doesn’t Institute also criticized the curfew plan, est daily rise in new infections since
make any sense to have night curfews writing that, “Nightly curfews won’t mid-October. The contagion rate is Some 4 million doses of the vaccine
and reopen malls. help much. At best, it will reduce the 2.8%. are expected to arrive in Israel by the
infection coe cient R by 0.05. But real- end of the month.
“If they say that this is a catastrophe istically it will do even less. Mainly what If infection rates do not drop signifi-
and there’s nothing else to do, so don’t it will do is further undermine the pub- cantly by Dec. 20, and daily cases climb Shipments will arrive from United
open the malls. Why do something that lic’s faith, which is already low. to 3,500, the National Security Coun- Cargo’s European distribution center
is not helpful, that is damaging, and also cil, which is charged with overseeing using state-of-the-art temperature-con-
“Less than 10% of [infection] contacts trolled shipping containers.

Published weekly (except for the week of Pesach and the week of Sukkos)

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23 Kislev 5781// December 9, 2020 BREAKING 11

13-Year-Old Dies from Fall in Beit Shemesh

HAMODIA STAFF

YERUSHALAYIM — Beit The boy fell approximately hurts; just a week ago the young dren have died after falling
Shemesh su ered a terrible 15 feet (4.5 m), and sustained man celebrated a bar mitzvah.” from high places, including
severe head injuries. this boy. So far in 2020, three
tragedy Monday: A 13-year- According to data from the children have been killed in
Zaka Beit Shemesh com- Beterem child safety organi- falls.
old bachur died after a fence mander Avraham Kopp said, “It zation, since 2015, 34 chil-

he was leaning on collapsed.

A-G Sets Deadline for
Appointment of Police Chief

SHMUEL SMITH

YERUSHALAYIM — Attorney would not have the authority to together on a new police chief at
General Avichai Mandelblit appoint senior o cials. this juncture.
ordered Public Security Minister
Amir Ohana to appoint a perma- In addition, Ohana would Acting Police Commissioner
nent police chief no later than the need the approval of the Blue Moti Cohen took over from Roni
end of December. and White party, as provided Alsheich in December 2018, but
by the coalition agreement. It’s Ohana has indicated he wants to
Mandelblit’s letter to Ohana unlikely that Ohana’s Likud choose someone to fill the post
follows a High Court ruling last and Blue and White would get permanently.
Thursday that a police chief be
appointed promptly, but which CH2AN0U%KAHOSFAFLE
did not set a deadline.
Rehov Tchelet Mordechai 10, Jerusalem, Tel:054-840-2112
However, the attorney gener- Opening Hours: Sunday-Thursday
al’s directive comes at a time of
acute uncertainty, as the Knesset 10:30-13:00, 17:00 to 20:00, or by Appointment
appears poised to disperse and
go to elections. That would likely
preclude an appointment now, as
the resultant interim government

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‫הביאני‬
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Arrangements by Rabbi Suki Berry

Eleven original nigunim composed by Rabbi Yitzchok Alster
Arrangements by Rabbi Suki Berry

Soloists: Rabbi Moshe Plitnik Shimshi Freedman
Choirs: Shir Daberie Ensemble and the Anash Chorus

Soloists: Rabbi Moshe Plitnik Shimshi Freedman
Choirs: Shir Daberie Ensemble and the Anash Chorus

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12 BREAKING 23 Kislev 5781 // December 9, 2020

Gov’t Triples Number of Vaccines Purchased From Moderna

ARYEH STERN health o cials are said to be weighing Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Illustration all vaccinated and we must all strictly
the possibility of giving approval for use adhere to the directives and not become
YERUSHALAYIM — The Health Min- of the vaccine in Israel without waiting sional teams have begun expedited work complacent.”
istry signed an agreement with Mod- for the U.S. Food and Drug Administra- on the allocation of the vaccines. But it
erna last week to triple the number of tion’s clearance. Supplies of vaccine are will take several months before we are
coronavirus vaccines that the company expected to begin arriving as early as
will provide Israel in 2021, to 6 million, next week.
enough to inoculate 3 million citizens.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu
Earlier in the week it was reported said Friday that the updated Moderna
that Israel may be receiving as many as deal “gives us hope. We see the light at
4 million doses of the Pfizer coronavirus the end of the tunnel.”
vaccine by the end of December. That
would be su cient to vaccinate 2 mil- Health Minister Yuli Edelstein said
lion people (each needing a follow-up the development “is great news for
shot) at the rate of about 80,000 a day, Israeli citizens and the Israeli economy.”
according to media reports.
“There will be no citizen who wants
It also ordered some 10 million vac- to be vaccinated whom we will be unable
cines from AstraZeneca. to provide with a vaccine. The profes-

Due to the urgency of the matter,

Local Vaccine Maker Says It’s Being Neglected

SHIMON B. LIFKIN visits, Professor Shmuel Shapira, direc- very reliable. Our professional and ethi- successful, the it will begin a phase II/
tor general of the Israel Institute of Bio- cal commitment is very high, and we keep III trial in the middle of the first half of
YERUSHALAYIM — The head of Israel’s logical Research, told the Knesset Sci- our feet firmly on the ground.” 2021.
program to develop a COVID-19 vaccine ence and Technology Committee that
says it is being shunted aside by its own words aren’t enough. Shapira claimed that over-regula- But, Shapira said, the Israeli vaccine
government in favor of commercial drug tion has been holding back the project. will have a substantial advantage worth
firms abroad, Globes reports. “We don’t have strong enough back- The institute began vaccinating vol- waiting for: it will probably require only
ing. There is in Israel a very big tenden- unteers early last month, as part of a one injection, compared with two for
While Prime Minister Binyamin Net- cy to give respect to companies whose phase I trial to see if the vaccine pro- all the companies that have announced
anyahu and Defense Minister Benny mother tongue is English. … We are very, duces enough antibodies. If that trial is successful phase III results.
Gantz have hailed the program for its
accomplishments during high-profile

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23 Kislev 5781 // December 9, 2020 BREAKING 13

THIS YEAR MORE THAN EVER

CWHAINTUHKAHTHCAENDFLEALMIGHITLINYG

No large gatherings, no taking unnecessary risks. We will conquer the coronavirus.

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14 BREAKING 23 Kislev 5781 // December 9, 2020

Teva to Get Exclusive Distribution Rights

HAMODIA STAFF Yossi Aloni/Flash90

YERUSHALAYIM — Teva Pharmaceuti- Freezers that will be used to store coronavirus
cals has signed a contract for the exclusive vaccines, at Teva Pharmaceuticals’ logistics center
right to distribute COVID-19 vaccinations in Shoham.
in Israel, Globes reported on Sunday.
ages to several hundred end points in temperatures are no longer neces- some other agency to administer the
Teva Israel General Manager Yossi Ofek health funds, care homes, and perhaps sary, and the packages can be kept at shots.
said the company will be ready to begin other institutions. The health funds the standard temperature for vacci-
distributing Pfizer and Moderna vaccina- then take over responsibility for the nations of 2-8 C for up to five days. Teva’s stock on the Tel Aviv Stock
tions in the next few weeks. packages, but at that stage deep-freeze Exchange was up 5.33% on Sunday amid a
It will be up to the health funds or general rise in share prices.
“We are waiting for the green light and
the possibility that within several weeks
millions of vaccination shots will arrive
here,” he said.

Ofek added that Teva’s logistics center
in Shoham and Teva’s center in Kfar Saba
are ready for storage of the Pfizer vaccina-
tions, which require minus 70 C, as well as
for Moderna’s, which don’t need such a low
temperature.

He acknowledged that handling
these vaccines in the middle of a major
health crisis will be challenging. “This is
something that we have not ever previ-
ously experienced in this field,” he said.
“We have developed methods … to cope
with it, from the moment that the plane
leaves the factory to us. The process is
very complicated and has to be 100%
successful.”

Ofek outlined the procedure, saying
that “the vaccinations will reach Shoham
in special packages containing dry ice and
will be divided into mini-packages of 970
vaccine shots each. When the package
lands we check the temperature thermom-
eter to be certain that the vaccine was kept
at the required temperature throughout
the journey.”

The plan is to ship these mini-pack-

Ikea Branch Closed, Shoppers Man Passes Away
Cleared Out After Contracting
Coronavirus for a
HAMODIA STAFF Second Time

YERUSHALAYIM — The Ikea branch in Rishon LeTzion opened on Sunday in defiance of ARYEH STERN
coronavirus restrictions, drawing a NIS 5,000 fine, The Times of Israel reported. Municipal
inspectors ordered customers to leave the store, as they were also in violation of the law. YERUSHALAYIM — An Israeli man passed away after
apparently having contracted coronavirus a second time,
Ikea has been wrangling with the Health Ministry over its right to reopen, citing other Kan News reported.
large stores that have been given permission.
The 74-year-old coronavirus patient was admitted to
The company announced Sunday morning that its branches in Israel would reopen in a Rabin Medical Center in August and fully recovered. How-
“limited format” adhering to health guidelines. But officials said they were noncompliant. ever, he showed signs of being reinfected before passing
away last week at Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer.
“The directives of the Health Ministry haven’t changed and no approval was given by the
ministry to open. The matter will be transferred for police enforcement,” an unnamed minis- Medical findings clearly pointed to a second case of coro-
try official told the Walla news site. navirus infection, and not merely a case of “post-coronavi-
rus,” which may result in false symptoms, according to the
Most malls and shopping centers are still barred from opening, but Ikea has argued it is an report.
essential business because it sells home maintenance products and is therefore allowed to
reopen under current regulations. Medical teams are now looking into the possibility of
the second infection being the result of a mutated gene of
AP Photo/Martin Meissner the virus. The other possibility is that the virus never left
the patient’s body and was not detected — and the infection
The Ikea branch in Duisberg, became active again after remaining dormant for several
Germany, has been closed months.
due to the pandemic.
In August, two European patients were reported to have
been reinfected with the coronavirus, raising concerns
about people’s immunity to the virus as the world struggles
to tame the pandemic.

Some experts say it is likely that such cases are starting
to emerge because of greater testing worldwide, rather than
because the virus may be spreading differently.

‫‪23 Kislev 5781 // December 9, 2020‬‬ ‫‪BREAKING‬‬ ‫‪15‬‬

‫ההגחנעדהלםהסשיטי!וביעעאילטתחקמיז‪-‬יטוןיזקהמ‪C‬פללא‬

16 BREAKING 23 Kislev 5781 // December 9, 2020

Moody’s Gives Israel A1 Rating, Despite Problems

HAMODIA STAFF AP Photo/Mark Lennihan the budget issue, which threatens to diction of a high credit rating with the
bring down the government. If a new devastating economic e ects of the pan-
YERUSHALAYIM — Moody’s interna- I will promote approval of the 2021 state state budget is not passed by Dec. 23, demic, including high unemployment,
tional ratings agency has said that it will budget, alongside a series of laws on eco- the country will automatically go to ballooning government debt and no state
let stand Israel’s sovereign rating at A1, nomic arrangements and reforms that elections, for the fourth time in two budget.
while noting the country’s volatile polit- will benefit Israel’s economy and citi- years.
ical climate. zens.” The answer, it said, is that “a sover-
Globes explained the apparent contra- eign credit rating is meant to answer one
In a 31-page assessment released at Katz met with Defense Minister simple question: What is the likelihood
the end of last week, Moody’s said: “We Benny Gantz on Sunday to try to resolve that a country will not repay its debts
have witnessed a deterioration in fis- when they come due? To answer that
cal policy e ectiveness in recent years, question, the credit rating agencies have
driven in part by a more polarized politi- built complex methodologies to assess
cal environment.” the ability and will of a country to repay
its debts under various headings: eco-
It continued, “Politicians have nomic strength, quality of government
increasingly sought to challenge the institutions, debt management policy,
country’s judicial system which may, and the ability of the economy to with-
over time, reduce the e ectiveness of the stand external shocks.
courts to act as a check on the exercise
of government power. At the same time, “Of the four main criteria making up
public confidence in the country’s politi- the rating, Israel is awarded a higher
cians has been eroding as Israeli leaders score for economic growth than its over-
have been at the center of a number of all rating. It receives the same score as
scandals involving bribery and abuse of its overall rating for quality of govern-
power.” ment, and a score lower than its overall
rating for level of debt and the various
In response, Finance Minister Yisra- risks, among them political risk. Never-
el Katz said: “The company believes in theless, despite the low score, the level of
the strength of the Israeli economy and political risk in Israel is not rated worse
in its ability to recover rapidly from the than the median score for countries with
crisis. In addition, Israel’s macroeco- similar overall ratings in Moody’s sys-
nomic policy and the aid given by the tem.”
state to its citizens are given positive
mention. In other words, despite serious prob-
lems, Israel is, at least for the time being,
“I shall continue to assist business still a good risk.
owners, the self-employed, and salaried
workers and provide them with solu-
tions in this period, and at the same time

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23 Kislev 5781 // December 9, 2020 BREAKING 17

18 BREAKING 23 Kislev 5781 // December 9, 2020

Yonatan Sindel/Flash90

Harav Chaim Kanievsky (R) and Harav Gershon Edelstein
(L) lead a meeting of the Moetzes of Degel HaTorah in
Bnei Brak, Friday.

Moetzes of Degel HaTorah Yonatan Sindel/Flash90
Convenes, Gives Chizuk
To Bnei Torah Harav Baruch Dov
Povarsky arrives
HAMODIA STAFF at the Moetzes
meeting.
BNEI BRAK — The Moetzes Gedolei ham Rubinstein, read the decisions of
HaTorah of Degel HaTorah met Fri- the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90
day morning in a special tent erected
under the home of Hagaon Harav Chaim • The Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah Harav Baruch
Kanievsky, shlita, in Bnei Brak. In obser- strengthens the tens of thousands of Mordechai
vance of coronavirus regulations, par- bnei Torah who continue to toil in Ezrachi arrives.
titions were placed to separate partici- Torah, despite the difficulties. The
pants from one another. Torah is what saves Klal Yisrael. The
Moetzes calls on the yeshivah students
At the meeting, a number of new to continue their regular seder even
members were added to the Moetzes, during the days of Chanukah.
including, shlita: Harav Baruch Weiss-
becker, Rosh Yeshivah, Yeshivas Beis • The Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah
Mattisyahu in Bnei Brak; Harav Shra- strengthens the principals of the Tal-
ga Steinman, Rosh Yeshivah, Yeshi- mudei Torah and yeshivos whose devo-
vas Orchos Torah in Bnei Brak; Harav tion enables the learning to continue.
Aryeh Levi, Rosh Yeshivah, Yeshivas
Sechar Sachir in the Negev; Harav • On the subject of the Draft Law,
Avraham Yitzchak Kook, Rosh Yeshi- the Moetzes demands that the status
vah, Yeshivas Me’or Hatalmud in of yeshivah students be regulated such
Rechovot; Harav Aviezer Piltz, Rosh that their legal status as bnei Torah
Yeshivah, Yeshivas Tifrach; Harav continues unhindered.
Yitzchak Hacker and Harav Tzvi Drab-
kin, Roshei Yeshivah, Yeshivas Grod- • Regarding the Conversion Law
na in Be’er Yaakov; and Harav Eliezer which is currently under consider-
Yehudah Finkel, Rosh Yeshivah, Yeshi- ation by the High Court, the Moetzes
vas Mir in Yerushalayim. Gedolei HaTorah expresses pain at the
attempt to undermine the purity of
Harav Gershon Edelstein, Harav Klal Yisrael by recognizing improper
Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi and Harav conversions, and calls on all parties to
Baruch Dov Povarsky spoke at the be vigilant in opposing any change to
meeting and a letter of brachah was the law.
read from Harav Chaim Kanievsky.
• The Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah
MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni spoke of calls on principals to be vigilant in
the battles the Torah community must maintaining the purity of education
wage in the Knesset, even though the without any foreign intervention and
party is in the coalition. that the students shall not be tempted
to study in academia.
After a discussion among the Rab-
banim, the secretary of the Moetzes • On the subject of Shabbos, the
and mayor of Bnei Brak, Rabbi Avra- Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah calls on our
representatives to do everything possi-
ble to preserve the sanctity of Shabbos.

23 Kislev 5781 // December 9, 2020 BREAKING 19

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20 BREAKING 23 Kislev 5781 // December 9, 2020

Yaalon Says Telem to Run Separately Report: New
In Elections Elections
Could Cost
YONI WEISS Israel Up to
NIS 3B
YERUSHALAYIM — Moshe Yaalon, Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 capture the centrist vote, would cut
head of the Telem party, said Friday he into the current coalition strength, but YONI WEISS
would take his faction out of its alliance MK Moshe Yaalon Likud, Yamina, Shas and UTJ would still
with Yesh Atid and run independently. have 61, enough for a slender majority YERUSHALAYIM — Elections
will be with me and my party and I will in the 120-seat Knesset, according to could cost Israel over NIS 3 bil-
Yaalon added that if former IDF lead. the poll. lion ($916,700,000), Yediot Acha-
Chief of Sta Gadi Eizenkot decides to ronot reported Sunday.
enter the political arena, he will join “You need to acquire a certain polit- If Eizenkot doesn’t run, the poll said
Telem as his No.  2, although Eizenkot ical experience, ministerially, that I Likud would get 29, Yamina 22 and Yesh A fourth election in two years
has not confirmed this. have and he does not,” Yaalon said. “He Atid-Telem 19. would come amid an econom-
is an excellent man, but yes — this is a ic and health crisis, with over
Speaking to Channel 12, Yaalon said di erent field from the military one.” Eizenkot, who retired from the IDF 900,000 unemployed, 80,000
that the political divorce would be for- in January, has hinted he may enter businesses shut down and a bud-
malized after elections are confirmed. A Channel 13 poll conducted last politics, but said nothing definite. He’s get deficit amounting to 13% of
week by Camil Fuchs found that if denied reports of a joint run with Tel GDP.
“We need a force that speaks to the elections were held now, a party led by Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai.
electorate and doesn’t think this is an Eizenkot would be the third-largest, The NIS 3 billion is an optimis-
issue of right or left, but rather, a mat- winning 15 seats — behind Likud with tic assessment, the report sug-
ter of ‘honest’ and ‘corrupt’ — and this 27 and Yamina with 21. gested, given that many more poll-
is what I am aiming for ahead of the ing stations and workers will be
elections,” he said, adding that in order An Eizenkot candidacy, seeking to needed to minimize the number
to break the paradigm of right-wing and of voters arriving at each location
left-wing political blocs, “it appears due to the coronavirus pandemic.
that Lapid and I need to run separately.” Separate polling stations are to be
opened at retirement homes and
Yaalon praised Lapid, howev- geriatric facilities.
er, saying he would make “an excel-
lent prime minister” but that a
di erent political alignment was
needed to garner 61 Knesset seats
and topple the prime minister.

The former defense minister also
said that Eizenkot understands “the
lesson of Benny Gantz,” adding that “if
he enters [politics], it is clear that he

Grilled meats, stir-fries, salads, dishes from the East Lapid Urges Gantz’s Blue and
White to Reunite Under Him

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All types and all sizes statement from the party said.
Unique service and flavors Lapid ran as part of a Benny Gantz-led
Blue and White during the three election “Gantz is the only one who will lead
Brissim, sheva brachos, birthdays and more campaigns over the past two years, but the centrist camp in the next election.”
broke with Gantz over the latter’s deci-
sion to join Prime Minister Binyamin Lapid has vociferously attacked
Netanyahu’s government. Gantz since he split o to join the gov-
ernment, and the two are reportedly no
“On my worst day, [Yesh Atid] will longer on speaking terms. Nonetheless,
be twice as large as [Blue and White],” Lapid has struck a more conciliatory
Lapid told Army Radio. “I call on those tone toward Gantz since he announced
his support for dissolving the Knesset.

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23 Kislev 5781 // December 9, 2020 BREAKING 21

22 BREAKING 23 Kislev 5781 // December 9, 2020

Shekel Shocker: Analyst Says Czech Republic
Exchange Rate Could Fall to 3.0 Adds Diplomat in
Yerushalayim Office
SHIMON B. LIFKIN

YERUSHALAYIM — An and generally. For the mar- Reuters/Amir Cohen, File PRAGUE (Reuters) — The AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic
Israeli market analyst said kets, the range of a year until Czech Republic said last week
last week that the dollar/ the end of COVID-19 even A man wearing a face it would add a diplomatic pres- The Czech Republic’s President
shekel exchange rate could represents an incentive to mask stands near ence to its Yerushalayim office Milos Zeman
sink to a record low of 3.0 in move higher.” an electronic board next year in what the Foreign
the coming months, but will displaying market data Ministry called a move to boost him on a decision that “empha-
rebound once the pandemic The low interest rate is at the Tel Aviv Stock services for Czech citizens in sizes our strong friendship and
is over. another factor. “Institu- Exchange. Israel and not a new embassy. strategic partnership.”
tional bodies around the
Shmuel Berger of Berg- world have no alternative to banks have contributed to The central European coun- Israel has become a more
er Finance Research told investing large amounts and the trend, by signaling their try has long been one of Isra- popular travel spot for Czechs
Globes: “This is the equa- the money continues to flow unlimited support. “The el’s steadiest supporters in the in recent years, growing from
tion — markets rise and every month and is new fuel central banks and govern- European Union and its presi- around 17,000 tourists in
the dollar falls. In the short for buying shares, bonds, ments are broadcasting in dent, Milos Zeman, has backed 2016 to about double that in
term this trend will con- and every other investment every possible way to the the idea of relocating the 2019, the ministry said. Last
tinue with the markets in the capital markets in var- world that investors are not Czech Embassy to Yerushalay- year around 160,000 Israelis
continuing to rise and the ious financial instruments.” walking alone and injecting im from Tel Aviv. However, no visited the Czech Republic, it
dollar continuing to fall. I money into the banks, to steps have been taken. said.
don’t rule out an exchange The world’s central businesses and even directly
rate of NIS $3.00/$ and into the pockets of the pub- The Czech Foreign Minis-
NIS 3.80/€.” lic,” he said. try said the establishment of
an office with a diplomat in
However, Berger believes Last week, the rate slipped Yerushalayim, alongside an
that the situation is only further below the 3.3 thresh- honorary consulate there, was
temporary, due to the pan- old, as the Bank of Israel set not connected to the ongoing
demic, and he’s optimistic the representative rate at peace process in the Middle
for the long run: “On the day NIS 3.289/$. East.
that it becomes clear that
the vaccinations have elim- It said that having a diplo-
inated the virus as a fact, mat would let it carry out more
the markets will fall and services for Czech citizens,
the required correction will such as replacing lost docu-
happen and then we will see ments, which can currently
the dollar-shekel rate back only be done at the embassy in
up to NIS 3.50/$ and per- Tel Aviv.
haps even more.”
Foreign Minister Gabi Ash-
When asked why the kenazi, writing on Twitter, said
stock market has performed he had spoken with his Czech
so well despite the virus and counterpart and congratulated
its economic fallout, Berger
replied: “The capital mar- Bahrain Backtracks on
kets see the virus as a passing Imports From Yehudah
episode that has increased
the use of technology, online

And Shomron
DUBAI (Reuters) — Bahrain ber countries, though it is not
Israel Transfers Billions of will not allow the import of required. The Trump admin-
Israeli goods produced in istration last month removed
Shekels to PA Yehudah and Shomron, state U.S. customs distinctions
news agency BNA reported, between goods made with-
YERUSHALAYIM (Reuters) — 2019 after Israel trimmed the hinder payment in December, disavowing comments made in Israel and in Yehudah and
Israel handed over a backlog of sum in retaliation for funds officials said. by the Gulf state’s trade min- Shomron.
billions of shekels in tax money going to the families of jailed ister last week.
to the Palestinian Authority last or killed terrorists. “The Israe- UNRWA finds itself in limbo PA Foreign Minister Riyad
week, in another sign of warm- li government transfers all after the U.S. elections — Pres- Bahrain’s Industry, Com- al-Maliki said that his Bah-
ing ties between the sides. financial dues of the clearance ident Donald Trump ended all merce and Tourism Minister raini counterpart, Abdullat-
to the account of the Palestin- U.S. payments, and while Pales- Zayed bin Rashid al-Zayani if al-Zayani, also denied the
The taxes, managed by Isra- ian Authority,” PA Minister of tinians hope the Biden admin- had voiced openness to industry minister’s comments
el under interim peace accords Civil Affairs Hussein al-Sheikh istration will at least partially imports from the region, add- in a phone call.
from the 1990s and usually wrote, giving the figure as resume payments, that could ing that Manama would make
handed over monthly, make up NIS 3.768 billion. take months. no distinction, allowing prod- “The alleged comments
more than half of the budget ucts from there to have labels … totally contradicted his
of the Palestinian Authority, The PA has been unable to The agency said last month saying “Made in Israel.” country’s [Bahrain] support-
whose economy has been hard pay the full wages of its 130,000 it had run out of money to pay ive position of the Palestin-
hit by the coronavirus pandem- employees in the past months. salaries after two years of fund- “The minister’s statement ian cause,” a statement from
ic. PA Prime Minister Mohammad ing cuts by the U.S. and other was misinterpreted and … Maliki’s office said.
Shtayyeh said last week it would donors, including Arab Gulf the ministry is committed to
The NIS 3.77 billion pay full salaries once it received states. the Bahraini government’s Meanwhile on Sunday, El
($1.14  billion) transfer is the the tax money. unwavering stance regarding Al signed a memorandum of
first since June, when the Pal- Adnan Abu Hasna, a adherence to the resolutions understanding with Bahraini
estinians snubbed the handover Meanwhile, the United UNRWA spokesman in Gaza, of the United Nations,” BNA flag carrier Gulf Air, which
due to Prime Minister Binyam- Nations Relief and Works Agen- said the November salary pay- said late Friday, quoting an will allow for direct flights
in Netanyahu’s plans, currently cy (UNRWA) for Palestinian ments were made possible only official source from the Min- between Tel Aviv and Mana-
suspended, to annex parts of refugees paid the salaries of by a $20 million loan from the istry of Industry, Commerce ma for the first time in history,
Yehudah and Shomron. 30,000 Palestinian staff across United Nations, $12 million in and Tourism. according to media reports.
the Middle East for last month, new pledges and an advance
The Palestinians also reject- but a funding shortfall may still from Sweden on its 2021 contri- Under European Union Gulf Air will start flying the
ed the cash several times in bution. guidelines, products from Manama-Tel Aviv route on
Yehudah and Shomron should Jan. 7.
be clearly labeled as such
when exported to EU mem- El Al recently signed a sim-
ilar memorandum with Abu
Dhabi-based Etihad Airways.

23 Kislev 5781 // December 9, 2020 BREAKING 23

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24 BREAKING 23 Kislev 5781 // December 9, 2020

Saudi Prince Strongly Criticizes Israel at  Bahrain Summit

DUBAI, United Arab Emir- weapons and its government’s continued widespread oppo- ligence for more than 20 years AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, File
ates (AP) — A prominent Saudi “unleashing their political min- sition to Israel by many inside and served as ambassador to
prince harshly criticized Israel ions and their media outlets from Saudi Arabia, despite some state- the U.S. and United King- Saudi Prince Turki al-Faisal
on Sunday at a Bahrain secu- other countries to denigrate and backed e orts to promote out- dom. Though he now holds
rity summit that was remotely demonize Saudi Arabia.” reach with Jewish groups and no o cial position, his “There will be ups and downs.
attended by Foreign Minister supporters of Israel. stance is seen as closely But the bedrock of that path, the
Gabi Ashkenazi, showing the The prince reiterated the mirroring that of King path of peace, is the Israeli-Pal-
challenges any further deals kingdom’s o cial position that Ashkenazi, meanwhile, reit- Salman. However, the estinian issue.”
between Arab states and Israel the solution lies in implementing erated Israel’s position that it is king’s assertive son,
face in the absence of a Pales- the Arab Peace Initiative, a 2002 the Palestinians who are to be the 35-year-old Crown In an apparent reference
tinian state. Saudi-sponsored deal that o ers blamed for not reaching a peace Prince Mohammed bin to Iran, al-Zayani added that a
Israel full ties with all Arab states deal. “We have a choice here with Salman, is seen having resolution to the conflict would
The fiery remarks by Prince in return for Palestinian state- the Palestinians whether to solve a greater willingness to also remove the pretext to jus-
Turki al-Faisal at the Manama hood on territory Israel captured it or not, or to go to this blame quietly engage with Israel tify some of the threats made to
Dialogue appeared to catch Ash- in 1967. game,” said Ashkenazi, an ally of to counter common rival Iran, regional security.
kenazi o guard, particularly as Benny Gantz. and boost foreign investment in
Israelis received warm welcomes He added, “You cannot treat the kingdom.
from o cials in Bahrain and the an open wound with palliatives Dore Gold, a Netanyahu con-
United Arab Emirates following and painkillers.” fidant and former U.N. ambas- Bahraini Foreign Minister
agreements to normalize ties. sador in the audience, implied Abdullatif al-Zayani, also on
Ashkenazi, who spoke imme- Prince Turki’s remarks were stage for the tense exchanges,
Prince Turki opened his diately after Prince Turki, said: “accusations of the past — many sought to smooth over the dif-
remarks by contrasting what he “I would like to express my regret of which are false.” The prince ferences in his remarks. Still,
described as Israel’s perception on the comments of the Saudi later brought up Gold’s previous he too stressed the importance
of being “peace-loving upholders representative… I don’t believe media appearances “denigrating of a resolution to the Palestin-
of high moral principles” versus that they reflect the spirit and the the kingdom and using the most ian-Israeli conflict based on a
what he described as a far dark- changes taking place in the Mid- vile descriptions.” two-state solution as envisaged
er Palestinian reality of living dle East.” by the Arab Peace Initiative.
under a “Western colonizing” “I think Mr. Dore Gold should
power. The confrontation and a later be the last one to talk about hav- “The path of peace is not an
back-and-forth between Prince ing previous beliefs and posi- easy ride. There will be a lot of
The prince criticized Israel’s Turki and a confidant of Prime tions here,” the prince said. obstacles along the way,” he said.
undeclared arsenal of nuclear Minister Binyamin Netanyahu
during the summit highlighted Prince Turki led Saudi intel-

Qatar Rules Out Normalization UAE Targeted in
With Israel ‘For Now’ Cyberattacks After
Israel Deal, O cial Says
YONI WEISS

YERUSHALAYIM — Qatar’s Reuters/Ibraheem al Omari, File DUBAI (Reuters) — The Kuwaiti said the finan-
foreign minister said Friday United Arab Emirates was cial sector was targeted
that his country remains com- Qatari Deputy Prime the target of cyberattacks but did not elaborate. He
mitted to the creation of a Pal- Minister and Minister after establishing formal did not say if any of the
estinian state with its capital in of Foreign A airs ties with Israel, the Gulf attacks were successful or
eastern Yerushalayim, and that Sheikh Mohammed bin Arab state’s cyber security provide details on who the
progress on that front would Abdulrahman al-Thani head said on Sunday. perpetrators were. He also
need to be “at the core” of any told the conference that the
agreement to normalize rela- a transitional trial phase to see “Our relationship, for number of cyberattacks in
tions with Israel. if they can start resolving the example, with the nor- the UAE increased sharply
dispute.” malization with Israel after the start of the coro-
“Right now, I don’t see that really opened a whole navirus pandemic. Kuwaiti
the normalization of Qatar and Riyadh, Bahrain, the United huge attack from some said traditionally many
Israel is going to add value to Arab Emirates and Egypt sev- other activists against the attacks in the region orig-
the Palestinian people,” Sheikh ered ties with Qatar in June UAE,” Mohamed Hamad inate from Iran, without
Mohammed bin Abdulrahman 2017 over allegations Doha was al-Kuwaiti said during specifying who is behind
al-Thani said at Italy’s annual colluding with Iran and back- an onstage interview at them.
Mediterranean Dialogue. ing radical Islamists. Qatar a conference in Dubai.
denies the charges.
There was speculation that calling for recognition of Israel Flash90
Qatar — which already cooper- The boycotting countries in exchange for its withdraw-
ates with Israel in providing aid have closed their airspace, al from territories acquired in The flags of the U.S., United
to the Gaza Strip — might be the land borders and sea channels 1967 and the creation of a Pal- Arab Emirates, Israel and
next Arab country to normalize to Qataris and vehicles regis- estinian state. Bahrain seen in the city of
relations after the United Arab tered there. Netanya.
Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan. He also noted that his coun-
Hopes that Kushner could try has a “working relation-
President Donald Trump’s persuade the prince to follow ship” with Israel to provide aid
son-in-law and senior adviser the UAE and Bahrain in nor- to Gaza, where Hamas seized
Jared Kushner was in Qatar last malizing ties with Israel did power from rival Palestinian
week to meet with the country’s not pan out. forces in 2007. “But for the full
ruler Emir Sheikh Tamim bin normalization, I believe the
Hamad Al-Thani. The foreign minister said Palestinian issue needs to be
Qatar remains committed to at the core of any agreement of
They reportedly discussed the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, normalization between Qatar
“developments in the region,” and Israel,” he said.
but no details were released.
The normalization agree-
The Times of Israel quoted ments with Israel, brokered by
analysts who expected Kushner the United States, were wide-
to focus on e orts to resolve ly seen as a breakthrough in
the three-year-long Gulf crisis, Mideast diplomacy. The Pales-
a stubborn stando between a tinians condemned the agree-
Saudi-led alliance and Qatar. ments as a betrayal.

Cinzia Bianco, a research fel-
low at the European Council for
International Relations, said
Saudi Arabia was “considering

‫‪23 Kislev 5781 // December 9, 2020‬‬ ‫‪BREAKING‬‬ ‫‪25‬‬

‫‪bbl luueebbi irrdd‬‬

‫חנוכה‪ ,‬חורף‪ ,‬ירושלים ‪ -‬פאו שוקולה‬
‫דונאטס‪ ,‬טבלאות שוקולד‪ ,‬פרלינים אקליירים ועוד‪...‬‬
‫חוגגים חנוכה בעולם שכולו עטוף בשוקולד וניחוחות פריזאיים ממכרים‬

‫‪Pau chocola‬‬ ‫‪.............‬שו‪..‬קו‪..‬ל‪.‬ד‪.././..‬מ‪..‬ת‪.‬נו‪..‬ת‪.././..‬מ‪..‬ר‪.‬כ‪.‬ז‪...‬מ‪.‬ב‪..‬ק‪.‬ר‪.‬י‪.‬ם‪..././..‬ק‪..‬פ‪.‬ה‪.‬‬
‫‪.‬מ‪..‬ל‪.‬א‪..‬כי‪.8..‬י‪..-.‬ם‪..1.0.:.0.0.-.2..1.:.0.0.././.‬ר‪..‬צו‪..‬ף‪......0.7.3...7..8.8...1.7.7..7.././.‬‬
‫‪EST. 1987‬‬