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The Daily Edition

What Matters Most On Thursday, September 17, 2020

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An Israeli bride with a face mask walks at the Mahane Yehuda Market in Jerusalem on September 15, 2020. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Explainer

Who by prayer, who by protest: A guide for the lockdown perplexed

Rules for a locked down nation: What will be open/closed starting Friday at 2 p.m., what activities will be allowed/banned, and when you can travel over 1 kilometer from your home

Israeli troops operate a roadblock along a highway near the Lebanese border in an undated photograph. (Israel Defense Forces)

Israel media reviewLockdown in the dumps: What the press is saying on September 17

A protective face mask is left on the ground during the Eid al-Adha prayers, next to the Dome of the Rock at the Temple Mount compound in Jerusalem's Old City, July 31, 2020. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean, File)

Hours after announcing Temple Mount closure, Waqf reported to reverse decision

By AFP and ToI Staff

A restaurant operating with coronavirus precautions (vichie81 via iStock by Getty Images)

Government okays lockdown to start Friday as new infections recede slightly

Rules indicates restrictions will be open-ended and not necessarily rolled back after 3 weeks; ministry reports 4,537 virus cases Wednesday, down about 1,000 from Tuesday high

Health minister defends lockdown, signals Israel in it for the long haul

As lockdown set to begin, Rivlin apologizes for leaders’ virus failures

Number of seriously ill virus patients surges as report points to excess deaths

Trump: If we don’t win, Israel is in big trouble

Stumping for a sweet new term, Trump tells US Jews ‘We love your country also’

By Jacob Magid and JTA

In Rosh Hashanah call with community leaders, president again appears to suggest US Jews are loyal to Israel, warns things could turn sour for Israel if they don’t vote Republican

Illustrative: In this January 28, 2017, file photo, US President Donald Trump speaks on the phone with Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. (AP/Alex Brandon, File)

Trump says White House staffer tests positive, day after Mideast peace pageant

Delegation to US said to break health rules after getting reduced quarantine

Jewish groups claim Trump ad featuring Bernie Sanders is anti-Semitic

Israel tells Hasidic pilgrims on Ukraine border to go home, as Uman talks fail

By ToI Staff and Agencies

Likud’s Ze’ev Elkin says Kyiv has put its foot down on allowing Hasidic travelers to visit rabbi’s grave for holiday; thousands remain in Belarus along border

Ukrainian border guards block the road on the Belarus-Ukraine border, in Belarus, September 15, 2020. (TUT.by via AP)

Hasidic pilgrims at Ukraine border refuse to return despite Israel’s plea

By Olga SHYLENKO and Jonah Mandel

Red Cross aiding hundreds of Jewish pilgrims massed at Ukraine’s closed borders

By Cnaan Liphshiz

Ukraine, Belarus trade blows as Hasidic pilgrims push to cross shuttered border

By ToI Staff and AFP

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a televised statement at his official residence in Jerusalem on September 17, 2020. (Screen capture: YouTube)

Live updates (closed)

Netanyahu warns ‘there may be no choice’ but to tighten lockdown

PM defends 3-week closure set to begin Friday afternoon, says government ‘made every effort to balance the health considerations and economic needs’

6:47 pm

Virus czar absent from televised statements ahead of lockdown
6:17 pm

Health minister says lockdown 'not enough,' further restrictions needed
6:14 pm

Treasury chief vows to push for lowering salaries of ministers, MKs

Op-ed

The absent peacemaker

The US has been repeatedly inviting Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to reengage and advocate for his people’s interests. Isn’t that supposed to be his very purpose?

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas gestures during a meeting to discuss the United Arab Emirates' deal with Israel to normalize relations, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, August 18, 2020. (Mohamad Torokman/Pool Photo via AP, File)

L-R: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Donald Trump, Bahrain Foreign Minister Abdullatif al-Zayani, and UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan wave from the Truman Balcony at the White House after they participated in the signing of the Abraham Accords, where the countries of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates recognize Israel, in Washington, DC, September 15, 2020. (SAUL LOEB / AFP)

Italian MP nominates Netanyahu for Nobel Peace Prize

US President Donald Trump, center, with, from left, Bahrain Foreign Minister Abdullatif al-Zayani, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan, during the Abraham Accords signing ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, September 15, 2020, in Washington. (Alex Brandon/AP)

Russia: Middle East peace impossible without solving ‘Palestinian problem’

By AFP and ToI Staff

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Stay home these High Holy Days

As Rabbi Yisrael Salanter, taught during the Cholera epidemic of 1848, none of the reasons for opening the synagogues justifies the risk

The Ramban’s lost prayer, revealed

After some careful manuscript reconstruction, it turns out that Nachmanides’ 13th century poetry is surprisingly modern, expressing desire for understanding and closeness to God

Ruth Gavison, Gadi Taub, and Israeli academia

For political theory to hold up, we must apply it consistently, without favoring one population over another. That constancy was also the calling card of my dearly departed mentor

The pandemic: Giving new meaning to this year’s High Holidays

A brief survey of the special prayers of the day, re-interpreted for startling relevance to our contemporary experience of COVID-19

Israeli Ambassador to Germany Jeremy Issacharoff, left, with UAE Ambassador to the US Yousef al-Otaiba, at the White House, September 15, 2020 (courtesy)

Interview

26 years after first Israeli-UAE meet, new ties bring a diplomat full circle

Recalling his first discreet contact with an Emirati official, Jeremy Issacharoff relishes finally being able to ‘take the mask off’ bilateral relationship

Then-Mossad chief Yossi Cohen speaks at a Tel Aviv University cyber conference, on June 24, 2019. (Flash90/File)

Mossad chief indicates Saudis could join nations normalizing ties with Israel

Illustrative: People trade during the International Diamond Week at the Israel Diamond Exchange center in Ramat Gan, Feburary 10, 2015 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Israeli and Dubai diamond exchanges sign trade agreement

By AP

Jerusalemite Moshe Silver blows the shofar, or ram's horn, traditionally sounded on the Jewish new year of Rosh Hashanah, while wearing a prayer shawl emblazoned with the Hebrew phrase meaning, 'Love thy neighbor as thyself.' (Courtesy Reza Green)

The brighter side

Jessica Steinberg

This Rosh Hashanah, the shofars are blowing in the wind

A veteran ram’s hornist and a team of programmers are seeking blowing opportunities for New Year’s 5781

A wall painting in Acre, Israel, honoring Nahmanides, also known as the Ramban. (Wikimedia Commons)

Recently discovered prayer by renowned 13th-century Talmudist Ramban goes online

Singer Shiri Maimon right, with pianist Yossi Mor for their Rosh Hashana 5781 composition of 'L'Shana Haba'a' (Courtesy Shira Maimon Facebook page)

Next year will be betterShiri Maimon offers potent cover of Israeli classic, ‘Bashana Haba’a’

By Jessica Steinberg

Asher Biton (courtesy)

Israeli seriously injured in rocket attack was delivering food to needy when hit

Asher Biton, 62, a father of 15, was one of two people wounded when Palestinians in Gaza fired rockets into Israel Tuesday during White House peace ceremony

Defense Minister Benny Gantz (L) tours the Gaza front alongside military officials, Sptember 16, 2020 (Ariel Hermoni/Defense Ministry)

Gantz warns of harsher response to Gaza as IDF said to boost defense batteries

The Mavi Marmara is seen of the coast of Israel in May 2010 (Photo credit: Kobi Gideon/FLASH90)

ICC rejects appeal for Marmara raid probe, but says prosecutor fudged decision

By AFP and ToI Staff

Eli Rozenberg, the new controlling shareholder of El Al (Courtesy)

El Al’s new owner: Eli Rozenberg, a 27-year-old yeshiva student from New York

By ToI Staff and Shoshanna Solomon

Rozenberg, son of US Centers Health Care nursing home chain founder Kenny Rozenberg, was sole bidder for controlling stake in embattled Israeli national carrier

Illustrative: El Al airplanes parked at Ben Gurion International Airport, August 8, 2020. (Olivier Fitoussi/FLASH90)

Ending virus lull, El Al to restart some flights to US, Europe in October

Yasmin Jaber, a Palestinian resident of East Jerusalem convicted on July 4, 2021, of spying for Hezbollah. (Shin Bet)

East Jerusalem woman arrested for allegedly spying for Hezbollah

By Aaron Boxerman

Shin Bet says Yasmin Jaber, an employee of the National Library, was recruited by the Lebanese terror group while attending a 2015 conference in Beirut

An image produced by US researchers shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles (red), covering human bronchial cilia (blue), and mucus (yellow). (Ehre Lab, UNC School of Medicine)

US researchers produce startling images of coronavirus-infected cells

Pictures from UNC School of Medicine illustrate the density of SARS-CoV-2 on human tissue, which contributes to its spread within individuals, and to others

French protesters stand by a coffin for a protest, outside the French Health Ministry in support of medical workers of EHPAD (Housing Establishment for Dependant Elderly People), following the coronavirus outbreak, in Paris, France, September 16, 2020. (Rafael Yaghobzadeh/AP)

WHO warns countries not to cut virus quarantine below 14 days

By Agencies and ToI Staff

(L-R)Bahrain Foreign Minister Abdullatif al-Zayani, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Donald Trump, and UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan hold up documents as they participated in the signing of the Abraham Accords where the countries of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates recognize Israel, at the White House in Washington, DC, September 15, 2020. (SAUL LOEB / AFP)

Author interview

Israel-UAE peace key to averting global climate disaster — Tel Aviv U. scholar

In ‘The Power of Deserts,’ Prof. Dan Rabinowitz envisions a new Mideast paradigm to save the planet — one that is unexpectedly playing out today under new normalization ties

Ross Kriel, left, and Emirates Flight Catering CEO Saeed Mohammed signing an MOU about cooperating on kosher meals produced locally, Abu Dhabi, September 17, 2020 (courtesy Emirates)

Pie in the sky: Emirates airline to serve up its own kosher food

By Raphael Ahren

A screenshot from a past season of "Goalstar." (YouTube)

Peace pitchIsraeli reality show ‘Goalstar’ to film its next season in the UAE

By Curt Schleier

Illustration by Avi Katz

Necessary Stories

Thirst

By Haim Watzman

More Headlines

Illustrative: Police secure the demonstration of the far-right party 'Rise of German Patriots' in Leipzig, Germany, May 1, 2019. (Heiko Rebsch/dpa via AP)

Germany suspends 29 cops over neo-Nazi WhatsApp groups

By AP

Sasha Baron Cohen, right, as Abbie Hoffman in "The Trial of the Chicago 7." (Niko Tavernise/Netflix via JTA)

Sacha Baron Cohen’s next Netflix role is super Jewish and super relevant

By Lior Zaltzman

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is flanked by US Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft as he speaks to reporters following a meeting with members of the UN Security Council about Iran's alleged non-compliance with a nuclear deal and calling for the restoration of sanctions against Iran at United Nations headquarters in New York, August 20, 2020. (MIKE SEGAR / POOL / AFP)

US to declare UN sanctions on Iran are back, setting up showdown with the world

By AP

A Jewish terror suspect arrives to hear his verdict on his involvement in an arson attack in the West Bank village of Duma where three members of the Dawabshe family were killed, October 24, 2019. (Avshalom Shoshani/Flash90)

Teen accomplice in deadly 2015 Jewish terror attack sentenced to 3.5 years

By Aaron Boxerman

The cast of the Israeli series 'Fauda,' which is available on Netflix. (Ohad Romano/via JTA)

Netflix and killHit Israeli series ‘Fauda’ to return for 4th season

Mayor of Yuma Douglas Nicholls, second to the left, in Arizona and Ramat Hanegev Regional Council sign accord to share expertise in a variety of strategic sectors; Sept. 16, 2020 (Courtesy Yuma)

Arizona’s Yuma, Negev coucil to join forces to boost economies

By Shoshanna Solomon

Israelis enjoy sitting at a bar in Tel Aviv on June 9, 2020. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

Liquid faithTel Aviv bars rebrand as synagogues to protest virus lockdown rules

Protests outside the Prime Minister's Residence in Jerusalem on August 22, 2020. (Anat Peled/Times of Israel)

Government, police said seeking to limit numbers at protests during lockdown

Yamina MK Bezalel Smotrich speaks during a Knesset plenary session at the Knesset, on August 24, 2020. (Oren Ben Hakoon/Pool)

Knesset rejects inquiry into justice system after cover-up claim

Jewish men and women praying together for forgiveness (Selichot), at the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem, September 24, 2014. (Photo credit: Noam Revkin Fenton/FLASH90)

Anti-Semites break into Zoom prayer services for Alabama Jews

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August	September 2020					October
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