This evening (Wednesday), President Reuven Rivlin gave Yesh Atid party leader Yair Lapid the mandate to form a government.

This follows Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the first to receive the mandate following elections for the 24th Knesset, failing to form a government within the allotted time.

Lapid’s chances of forming a viable government are slim. The left-center bloc is divided, the Arab parties are split, while four parties are still combating each other on the right, an acrimonious political situation in an already toxic environment in Israel.

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) carried out a series of strikes in Syria Tuesday night, the country’s media reported.

A military source told SANA news that at about 2:00 am, the IAF carried out strikes in the coastal area of Latakia.

The attack killed a civilian and wounded six others, and caused material damage, including to the electric grid in some areas and to a plastic manufacturing facility, the report said.

The IDF has remained silent on the reports, as it usually does. The IAF has reportedly previously hit terror targets in the area.

Iran routinely attempts to arm the Lebanon-based Hezbollah with advanced weapons. Israel has exposed and thwarted multiple attempts by Iran to transfer game-changing weapons to Hezbollah, including by air shipments from Iran, through Damascus Airport.

Israel has significantly stepped up its strikes against Iranian and Hezbollah targets in Syria in recent months.

In general, Iran and Hezbollah’s military build-up in Syria remains a red line for Israel. The IAF has carried out thousands of attacks to thwart the Iranian entrenchment in the war-torn country.

Israeli leaders have repeatedly declared that they will not tolerate an Iranian threat on its northern border with Syria and will take all necessary measures to ensure that such a menace does not emerge.

The first two cases of the Brazilian Coronavirus (COVID-19) variant were identified in Israel, the Ministry of Health announced Monday.

Two Israelis returning from abroad, a baby and an adult who has been vaccinated against COCID-19, were found to be infected with the variant.

The Brazil variant of SARS-CoV-2, B.1.128.2, contains the E484K mutation. Research into the variants circulating in Brazil found mutations in the spike region of the virus that is used to enter and infect cells, changes that can make the virus more resistant to vaccines.

The first case of a Chilean variant was also identified, a vaccinated Israeli who had returned from abroad.

The cases were identified through random testing by the National Genome Sequencing Array.

Furthermore, 19 more cases of the Indian variant were discovered among foreigners coming to Israel. A total of 60 cases of the Indian variant have been discovered to date.

The Ministry of Health said that the implications of these new variants for vaccinated and recovering patients is yet unclear.

The Ministry of Health underscored the recommendation to the entire population, including the vaccinated, to avoid unnecessary travel abroad.

Israel’s health services have previously discovered cases of the New York variant, the California variant, as well as the UK, South African, and Los Angeles variants.

An IDF soldier was moderately injured Sunday night during a shooting exercise in an IDF base in the Jordan Valley.

The wounded soldier was evacuated while conscious for medical treatment at a hospital in Jerusalem.

The IDF stated it has launched an inquiry into the incident.

An Arab terrorist attacked and attempted to stab Israelis at the Gush Etzion Junction on Sunday morning.

The terrorist, a female said to be in her 60s, was shot and wounded by IDF soldiers securing the site.

No Israelis were injured in the attack.

The terrorist reportedly sustained injuries to her legs and was evacuated in serious condition by an IDF medical team to an Israeli hospital for further treatment.

The Gush Etzion Junction has been the scene of multiple terror attacks.

This attack follows a similar incident that occurred at a junction just north of Sunday’s attack. An Arab terrorist armed with a bottle attacked an Israeli policeman who was directing traffic at the Efrat Junction on Friday.

After firing warning shots, the policeman shot the terrorist and neutralized him.

No Israelis were injured in this incident as well.