Former Minister Ayoob Kara, who is next in line to enter the Knesset In behalf of the Likud following the resignation of Sharren Haskel, told the Israel Hayom newspaper, "If I know there will be primaries, I will return to the Knesset."Kara added, "I want to correct what they did to me when I was relegated to the bottom of the list. I brought achievements and was close to being appointed Foreign Minister - and because I reached such a position the members felt threatened and caused me to be placed in a lower spot In the list."

A poll conducted for Radio 103FM by Panels Politics, following the announcement of Zeev Elkin that he was leaving the Likud for New Hope, reveals that the move has significantly weakened the Likud party.According to the results of this latest poll, New Hope would win 22 Knesset seats and Likud just a few more - 25.Yamina, headed by Naftali Bennett, who announced his candidacy for the premiership last night, would win 14 seats, as would Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid party. The Joint List would win 11 seats, down from the 15 it currently holds.The haredi parties Shas and UTJ would win 8 and 7 seats respectively Yisrael Beytenu would win 7 seats, Meretz 6, and Blue & White would just scrape through the electoral threshold with 4 seats.

Head of the New Hope party, Gideon Sa'ar, has criticized the decision of the Prime Minister to impose a third nationwide lockdown In the country.The lockdown is due to begin Sunday and will last for two weeks."Two months ago, I spoke with the Prime Minister and suggested that he conduct nationwide testing rather than relying In a lockdown strategy. If he had taken up the idea, we could have completed that program by now and returned to a relatively normal routine, with no need for a lockdown. If we had a broad testing program, along with the vaccination program, we wouldn't now be entering lockdown with all its negative social and economic consequences."

Kushner and Middle East envoy Avi Berkowitz foresee 'rosy future for region': 'They will get closer to each other, learn to know each other'

The condition of MK David Bitan, hospitalized in serious condition due to coronavirus infection, has taken a slight turn for the better overnight.

Cabinet ministers In Wednesday night approved a lockdown which will take effect In Sunday at 5:00 p.m. and will be in effect for two weeks.Read more

MK Amit Halevi (Likud) In Wednesday night blasted Minister Ze"ev Elkin, who quit the Likud and joined Gideon Sa"ar's party."While blaming Netanyahu for being Ine who prefers personal considerations, Elkin vents about his personal frustrations over the attitude towards him. It is hard not to feel that he is driven by personal frustration and an opportunity for a little revenge," said Halevi."When he allows himself to wonder in public whether Netanyahu will hold primaries for us, while he himself jumps into a personal work arrangement that was promised to him, in a party without fear of primaries - he defines New Hope as a party born out of personal and petty interests, far from the interest of the state," he added.

Rabbi Sholom Povarsky from Kol Torah Yeshiva in Jerusalem taken to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital after contracting coronavirus.