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Jacob Magid
Jacob Magid
Jacob Magid is the settlements correspondent for The Times of Israel.
A billboard shows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, Avigdor Liberman, center, and Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz, wearing masks in the Israeli city of Ramat Gan on March 29, 2020. The text urges them to take off the masks, because "the people want unity." (AP/Sebastian Scheiner)
March 30, 2020, 11:15 pm
Netanyahu tests negative for virus, but will remain in quarantine
Prime minister to remain in isolation until told otherwise by Health Ministry, after aide comes down with COVID-19; tests of his close aides and family also come back clean
By Jacob Magid
Tel Aviv city hall is lit up with the Magen David Adom logo to show support to medical workers battling the coronavirus, March 30, 2020. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
March 30, 2020, 10:18 pm
Israel announces 348 new confirmed virus cases, bringing total to 4,695
Daily total of 450 cases shows marked drop from earlier 24-period; 79 patients in serious condition, including 66 hooked up to ventilators; 161 people have recovered
By Jacob Magid
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a televised statement at the Prime Minister's Residence in Jerusalem on March 30, 2020. (Screen capture/ YouTube)
March 30, 2020, 9:38 pm
Netanyahu says cabinet set to ban gatherings of more than 2 people
PM, in self-quarantine, says Israelis must pray on their own, hold a Passover ‘shutdown seder’ only with their nuclear families; slams ‘extremist groups’ for violating guidelines
By Jacob Magid
President Reuven Rivlin, center, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and Blue and White leader Benny Gantz shake hands at the memorial ceremony for the late president Shimon Peres at the Mount Herzl cemetery in Jerusalem on September 19, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
March 30, 2020, 9:05 pm
Unity talks said to stall as Gantz refuses to back annexation plan
Blue and White willing to give up on Foreign Ministry in exchange for top health post, but wants Edelstein out of speaker’s chair; latter willing to become foreign minister instead
By Jacob Magid
Illustrative: Rockets are launched from the Gaza Strip toward Israel, November 13, 2019. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
March 27, 2020, 10:02 pm
Gazans fire rocket into Israel, breaking lull in violence amid virus outbreak
IDF strikes Hamas targets after projectile launch towards southern town of Sderot triggers first red alerts in weeks; no injuries or damage reported
By Jacob Magid
US President Donald Trump participates in an expanded bilateral meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, January 27, 2020, in the Oval Office of the White House. (Official White House Photo by D. Myles Cullen)
March 27, 2020, 8:47 pm
Trump phones Netanyahu to congratulate him that he’ll form, head next government
Leaders also discuss steps needed to manage coronavirus pandemic; call comes day after Benny Gantz indicates he will enter unity government with PM
By Jacob Magid
The empty promenade and beach along the shore of the Mediterranean Sea in the city of Tel Aviv on March 27, 2020. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)
March 27, 2020, 7:31 pm
Netanyahu: If cases don’t dip in 2 days, full lockdown will be only option
PM said to want to reduce economic activity to 10%, warns there could be thousands of seriously ill; finance minister objects, says Israel could be headed to economic catastrophe
By Jacob Magid
An ambulance exits the Ayalon Prison in Ramle. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)
March 27, 2020, 5:27 pm
Cabinet approves release of 500 prisoners to house arrest to reduce virus threat
Decision only applies to Israeli residents near end of terms, not those serving time for security or sexual-related offenses; Defense Ministry set to open 20 more quarantine hotels
By Jacob Magid
Molotov cocktails hurled at Border Police outside of the Yitzhar settlement on March 27, 2020. (Border Police)
March 27, 2020, 12:45 pm
IDF, cops condemn settler firebombing of troops as ‘serious terror attack’
Politicians denounce attack on police jeep outside Yitzhar, which seems to be response to crackdown on nearby outpost, but fall short of calling perpetrators ‘terrorists’
By Judah Ari Gross and Jacob Magid
Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz gives a press statement on January 1, 2020. (Flash90)
March 27, 2020, 9:39 am
To place ‘Israel before all else,’ Gantz threw away his insurance policy
Blue and White head no longer has centrist alliance to return to if unity talks with Netanyahu go south, and most of his former Knesset supporters have turned on him
By Jacob Magid
Molotov cocktails hurled at Border Police outside of the Yitzhar settlement on March 27, 2020. (Border Police)
March 27, 2020, 3:01 am
Yitzhar area settlers hurl fire bombs at troops in ‘terror attack’ — police
No officers injured, but vehicle damaged in incident, drawing swift condemnation from Israeli leaders
By Jacob Magid
Children make kiddush at a model Passover seder (Nati Shohat/Flash90)
March 25, 2020, 11:25 pm
No extended family allowed at Passover seders, Health Ministry rules
Relatives will not be permitted to travel to one another for traditional meal on first night of holiday, even if that means individuals will have to observe it alone
By Jacob Magid
Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit at the annual INSS conference in Tel Aviv on January 28, 2020. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)
March 25, 2020, 10:49 pm
AG: Edelstein’s resignation shouldn’t prevent an immediate vote on his successor
As High Court mulls whether to declare Likud MK in contempt, Mandelblit says the judges’ ruling compelling a vote can still be enforced
By Jacob Magid
President Reuven Rivlin (R) and Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein at the President's Residence in Jerusalem on November 21, 2019. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)
March 25, 2020, 9:39 pm
Rapping Edelstein, Rivlin says ‘unthinkable’ for lawmaker to ignore court order
In speech to nation, president avoids naming Knesset speaker, who resigned and refused to comply with ruling ordering vote on his replacement
By Jacob Magid
Arab Israeli Sondos Saleh, a candidate for the Hadash-Taal alliance of Arab parties, speaks during a campaign meeting in the northern Israeli city of Acre on March 26, 2019. (Ahmad Gharabli/AFP)
March 25, 2020, 8:53 pm
Joint List MK sent home from Knesset with fever, amid virus fears
If Sundus Saleh is found to be a COVID-19 carrier, she would be first lawmaker to have virus, though eight lawmakers already are in quarantine
By Jacob Magid
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