IDF Chief of the General Staff LTG Aviv Kochavi hosted in Tel Aviv on Sunday the Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria, who is on his first visit to Israel.

Bhadauria has been in Israel since Tuesday to enhance military cooperation between the two countries

“As strategic partners, India and Israel enjoy strong, multi-dimensional ties, an important pillar of which is defence cooperation and military level exchanges,” the Indian Air Force in a statement.

“Both sides will discuss enhancement in the depth and scope of bilateral exchanges between the two Air Forces,” it added.

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) stated that “the close partnership between the Indian and Israeli Air Forces reached a new milestone” with Bhadauria’s visit.

The IAF and the Indian Air Force held a joint exercise in February.

Bhadauria visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem with IAF Commander Maj. Gen. Norkin.

The visit to Yad Vashem “acted as a central part of the message that the IDF and the State of Israel’s mission cannot be fully understood without acknowledging the nation’s history, roots, traumas, and its rise from the Holocaust to revival,” the IAF stated.

A secret document from the Corona Cabinet was revealed this evening by Israeli media. According to this document, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is prepared for a nationwide shutdown over the Jewish holidays next month.

Bennett is reported to have instructed the various Israeli authorities to prepare for a fourth closure of the country in September. A leaked document obtained by Israeli news revealed that Bennet said if more severe restrictions currently imposed do not end the increases in Covid infections then another closure will be needed to prevent further deaths.

It was also reported that a significant number of cabinet ministers oppose such a move. It should be noted that no such decision has been officially made as of now.

Israeli Air Force (IAF) jets bombed Hamas terror targets early Saturday morning in response to several arson balloon attacks on southern Israel on Friday.

Gaza-based terrorists launched several balloons tied to flammable materials into Israel, igniting four blazes in open spaces.

The IDF stated that it hit a Hamas military compound and rocket-launching site.

“The rocket launching site was in a civilian area, once again emphasizing how Hamas endangers Palestinian civilians,” the IDF stated.

No injuries were reported.

“We will continue to respond as necessary to Hamas terrorist activities emanating from Gaza,” the IDF added.

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum stated in response that “the determination of the young people in Gaza” to continue firing incendiary balloons at Israel “proves for the thousandth time that they do not accept Israel’s dictates and its attempts to impose equations on the Gaza Strip.”

He said that “the hollow demonstrations of power and the empty attacks by Israel do not frighten the young people in Gaza and will not deter them from continuing to fight the siege and obtain their rights to live with dignity.”

Two major forest fires struck the area around Jerusalem this afternoon. One was centered in the region of the Hatmar Binyamin military base near the settlement of Beit El. Another encroached upon Jerusalem, nearing the neighborhood of Kiryat Yovel.

For the last several hours, a large number of Israeli firefighters have been working to put out the fires. Israel is currently experiencing a week-long heatwave with temperatures in the Jerusalem area breaking the 35 degrees Celsius mark – almost 100 Fahrenheit. There have been a number of such fires in the forest around Jerusalem and the Judean Desert area over the years when there is a heatwave such as this.

Ehud Amiton/TPS

The dry rain-free summer coupled with the extreme heat seems to be a combination for such disasters. There is no word at this time as to the cause of the fires. There have also been no reported casualties are injuries due to the blazes.

As of now, there has also been no report of any damage that might have occurred to private property.

Authorities, however, have reportedly asked some of the residents of Jerusalem’s Kiryat Yovel neighborhood to evacuate their homes as a precaution.

Israel Fire and Rescue Spokeswoman for Judea and Samaria explained that emergency reports were received about a large fire spreading in different directions, threatening the settlement of Beit El and a nearby IDF base. Many firefighters from the Binyamin Regional Station were dispatched and are currently working on putting out the fires. Aid from the Binyamin Regional Council arrived to offer further assistance to the firefighting and emergency units in the area.

More units were called and were said to be on their way to the area in recent hours. There were reports from the area that it is covered in smoke.

Deputy Chief Ido Peretz, Binyamin Region, stated: “This is a large fire that is spreading in several directions. At the moment, the fire crews are carrying out actions to contain and stop the spread of the fire to the settlement of Beit El and towards the base in order to minimize any damage to life and property.”

At this time the fires have yet to be put out.

The special Corona Cabinet of the Israeli government convened today and declared a series of new restrictions. The new rules are being implemented to fight the current outbreak due to the Covid delta variant.

Among the new restrictions, there will now be a mask mandate even in open public spaces where there are 100 people or more gathered. The special green pass will be canceled for all children under the age of 12.

In addition, all public offices will be limited to having just 50% of their workforce come into the office. The private sector is being encouraged to have people return to working from home.

The government said that it is taking these steps to avoid having to implement another national shutdown. One is already being threatened for the upcoming fall holiday season.

The Ministry of Health revealed that another 2,052 Israelis were diagnosed as positive for Covid yesterday. The Ministry also stated that the rate of people testing was about 3.1% of all those tested. As of now, 433 corona patients are hospitalized across the country, 221 of whom are in critical condition. 47 patients connected to respirators.

There are 182 people aged 60 and over who are in critical condition, 134 of whom were vaccinated. But the current rate of infection for unvaccinated people over the age of 60 is 4.5 times higher than those who are vaccinated.

So far in August, over just 3 days, 18 people have already died due to Covid. In July there was a total of 51 deaths for the months and in all of June, there were only 8.

As of now 142,334 Israelis over the age of 60 have already received their third vaccination.

Israel’s Minister of Science, Technology and Space Orit Farkash-Hacohen puts the blame for the current situation on the shoulders of the people who refused to get vaccinated. The minister said that she has, “zero patience for those who do not get vaccinated and do not practice civic responsibility.”

“We got into this situation because of the unvaccinated, this is the position of all the experts who are now not only endangering themselves but also those who have been vaccinated,” added Hacohen.

“As far as I am concerned, we should immediately return to the previous green label in which those who have been vaccinated and not vaccinated do not enter. Only in this way will we overcome what is being said here – that a million people, including the youth, are not vaccinated. Purple, green, happy character, does not really work. There is a difficult problem, the public is tired. It is not like the previous waves.”

Minister of Defense Benny Gantz commented, “Corona wards in hospitals need to be strengthened in light of the expected increase in hospitalizations.”

Gantz also threatened a closure over the holidays saying, “The public must be prepared for the option of closing in September, which is a month in which the economic damage will be minimal. At the same time, the effort of vaccines should be accelerated to try to prevent closure. The defense establishment is joining forces and increasing forces. The green and purple note should be returned now and contacts reduced.”