19 Tishrei 5781
7 October 2020
“Lockdown” Photos of the Day
The lockdown that isn’t. We took this picture going out of Ashdod yesterday. A policeman sitting at a checkpoint doing nothing–not stopping cars and not asking anyone any questions.
And when we came back into Ashdod on the other side of the road:
Another checkpoint where nothing is being checked.
The Corona lockdown is a farce. Anyone can go anywhere at any time.
The News on the Israeli Street
The daily Corona (Covid-19) update . . .
There are 272,309 confirmed cases—an increase of 4,717
211,397 of these confirmed cases have recovered—an increase of 7,042
880 are in critical condition—no change
225 of the most critically ill are on ventilators—a decrease of 3
1,797 have died–an increase of 40
There are now 60,912 active Corona cases in Israel.
Confirmed cases going down, active cases dropping: the situation is getting better, correct? Unfortunately not. These two numbers are decreasing because far fewer people have been tested in the past two days. This lack of testing is likely to continue until after the holidays are over.
More Corona numbers . . .
*The Ministry of Health reports that 7,640 students and teachers were infected with Corona during September–a 360% increase over August. 110,000 other students and teachers are in isolation. Is it any wonder that the schools have been closed here? When they will reopen is anyone’s guess.
*The Ministry of Transporation reports that since the skies reopened (slightly) last month, 174,000 Israelis have flown out of the country. Of this number, 337 Israelis returned to Israel having caught Corona. Apparently only 9 Israelis who went to Greece (the most popular destination) returned with Corona. All of which begs the question of “why is the airport only operating at limited capacity?”
One more Corona fact . . .
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Your humble servant would like to preface this piece by saying that he has the utmost respect for MADA (Magen David Adom). The paramedics and volunteers who work for the organization put their lives on the line every minute of every day.
Having said that, it appears that MADA is operating a Corona test scam. Since Corona first appeared in Israel, MADA has had a monopoly on Corona testing. These tests have often been given haphazardly (my daughter’s non-testing is an example), and when you can finally get a test, it takes an absurd 3-4 days to get a result.
For this lackluster performance, MADA is charging the government 4 times the going rate for a test, so far reaping more than 200 million shekels in money from the government.
As a result of this, the Health Ministry has just put out a bid for another entity to perform the tests. Immediately, MADA has weighed in saying that any potential winner of the bid will not provide the same level of quality testing as MADA.
This is nonsense. Even home test kits which are beginning to be marketed abroad have a 96% accuracy rate–at a cost of about 20 shekels a kit.
As an aside, the government announced this morning that beginning immediately, senior citizens’ centers will provide Corona tests whose results will be available in 15 minutes.
It’s about time (no pun intended).
Benny Gantz strikes again . . .
Our laughable “Defense” Minister Benny Gantz once again signed an extension yesterday permitting the PLO to pay the salaries of Palestinian terrorists via accounts in Palestinian banks operating in Areas A and B.
In doing so, Gantz stated that his order will be in place until the end of December this year at which time he will consider another extension.
Can you believe this?
Murderers and attempted murderers getting paid because of our “Defense” Minister.
It is sickening.
About the Chevron buyout . . .
As we have reported, Chevron has purchased Noble Energy’s natural gas holdings in offshore Israel in what PM Netanyahu lauded as a landmark deal several days ago.
Yesterday, one ramification of that deal came to light which is not so wonderful for Israeli consumers.
Chevron is threatening to immediately turn off the gas valve from the Tamar rig if the Israel Electric Corporation does not increase the amount of money it pays for one unit of heat from $3.75 to $6.3.
Chevron realizes that it has Israel, more properly Israeli consumers, over the barrel and is using its newfound leverage to raise prices.
TODAY’S BLOG:
Congratulations to the Temple Mount Sifting Project!
Kolakevod!
Your humble servant has often remarked that every visitor to Jerusalem should spend time at the Temple Mount Sifting Project on the Mt. of Olives. The work is hard, but the rewards are great.
As you know what is being sifted is dirt illegally removed from the Temple Mount by the Islamic Wakf and dumped outside the city. Pieces from the First and Second Temple are found on an almost daily basis.
I found a piece of a tile from the entry plaza of the Second Temple a few years ago.
Being in the top 10% of attractions worldwide is a major accomplishment.
Congratulations to the project workers for the work they do and the recognition they have achieved!
A student from Malawi, who had worked with an Israeli health volunteer in his country battling AIDS, came up to us as we walked down the street in the UC-Davis Picnic Day Parade and wanted to carry the Israeli flag.