COPING WITH CORONA IN KARMIEL, GALILEE

As the Karmiel Municipality today announced NIL coronavirus cases in the city, the 006 live news outlet reported that the Magen David Adom emergency services had put an immediate break on potential celebrations by declaringing it was preparing for a 'second wave' of the disease. The report added that MDA intended to establish a 'command room' that will be insulated from winter weather! Meanwhile Galilee Park, the city's largest gated recreational area that lies directly opposite the town hall, is due to reopen tomorrow, Thursday 28 May on the eve of the Shavuot holiday weekend. It is clear that new Corona cases continue to drop throughout Israel and today, Wednesday 27 May, The Times of Israel reported that the Ministry of Health had failed to give its customary daily update: " No new coronavirus figures reported by ministry The Health Ministry has yet to publish figures showing new coronavirus infections, deaths and other data as of Wednesday morning.

IDF new Home Front Command chief, Major General Uri Gordin , has proven that Magen David Adom is a top priority by making an official visit to its Kiryat Ono, Tel Aviv headquarters during his first week in office. During his visit, Major General Gordin was greeted by MDA Director General Eli Bean , who outlined MDA's operational routine and emergency activities.  Major General Gordin saw rescue vehicles operated by MDA teams in both routine and emergency situations and a wide range of hi-tech equipment. Also reviewed were Magen David Adom's activities in recent months in its role at the forefront of Israel's fight against the Coronavirus pandemic. ---------------  .  At time of writing, Israel has suffered 279 Coronavirus fatalities including the passing of the country's youngest victim,  Avishalom Rosilio ,33, from Migdal HaEmek.  Both Rosilio, an IDF Golani Brigade veteran and his wife, Lihi had  recovered from cancer. He is also survived by his 11-m

Etihad Airways  - perhaps best known in the West as the sponsor of the UK's  Manchester City Football Club - has now made Middle Eastern history by flying the first known direct commercial flight between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel. The flight to Ben Gurion Airport yesterday (Tuesday 19 May) brought medical supplies to Palestinian Authority citizens affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. There were no passengers on board. This remarkable story along with the one I repost  below unedited from the Magen David Adom emergency service endorse earlier reports that the pandemic has strengthened Arab-Israeli relations: "Magen David Adom is at سخنين:  -  Sakhnin  (an Arab town in the Galilee that neighbours Karmiel). Against the backdrop of continuing MDA teams at the forefront of the fight against the Coronavirus, dozens of MDA youth volunteers in Sakhnin underwent lessons to improve Hebrew in order to bridge the language gaps in teamwork and medical care.

As the Israeli Coronavirus infection and  death rates reduce to a trickle and recoveries increase every day, politicians and diplomats are now in a tailspin over the sudden death of China's new envoy to Israel aged only 57. Du Wei , who presented his credentials in February, is being said to have died of 'natural causes'. Some sources say he suffered a heart attack.  Meanwhile, Israel's close ties with both the United States and China make it the increasingly tested middleman as hostilities between the two major powers worsen daily.  More happily, Israel's education system is opening fully this week while beaches may be used officially from Wednesday. At time of writing, potential tourists should note that entry to Israel is still restricted to     Israeli passport holders, residence visa holders and passengers with specific entry approval. Further, the 14 day quarantine rule still applies to anyone returning from abroad. A list of airlines flying t

It's said that Shakespeare wrote King Lear during a plague year, but what about The Tempest ? Certainly the line "Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows”, spoken by someone who had been shipwrecked and found himself seeking shelter beside a sleeping monster, could well be said of Israel and her immediate neighbours in our time of Coronavirus. Most astoundingly,  Qatar Airways has included Israelis in its allocation of 100,000 free flights to medical professionals worldwide. Airline CEO Akbar Al Baker said of the 'thank you' giveaway during a CNN interview that “There is no difference, no barrier in medical fields". Meanwhile,  World Israel News  has reported that the pandemic had brought Israeli Jews and Arabs closer together while The Times of Israel told us that  three Arab Gulf states had contacted Israel seeking help in their own war against the common enemy. All of this has taken place against a background of increased Sin

Many of us feel personally affronted when we spot others either not wearing face masks or appearing to wear them as fashion items.  It can be equally irritating to be challenged for removing a mask for a permitted activity like a hair cut as I was on Sunday, only to see another person without a mask on the street sipping coffee - and smoking! Here I repost a video clip featuring Dr Ben Fox , who for almost four years has been the  Director of the Pulmonary Institute at the Shamir (Asaf Harofeh) Medical Centre, near Tel Aviv. In this Arutz Sheva presented interview, UK-born Dr Fox outlines which masks are most effective in protecting the population from the Coronavirus and the best way to wear them. He emphasises that face mask wearing may be at once 'selfish' (self-protective) and 'altruistic' as wearing them will help to protect others when we inadvertently cough or sneeze. An intense heatwave is forecast to start in Israel within the next few days