The delta strain also named as the Indian strain is currently
spreading rapidly around the world in many countries
with a much higher rate of infection than we are familiar with.
This means that something there is 50% more contagious
and unfortunately we also see the beginning of a spread within
the State of Israel including contagion in the community
that we do not always know how to locate the source.
We made an initial decision to treat it as a new outbreak and our
goal was to interrupt it, take a bucket of water
and pour over the fire while the fire is still small.
We are re-establishing the Corona cabinet.
Starting from this moment at the Ben Gurion Airport,
everyone who enters the airport, from the moment of entry to
the moment of departure is wearing a mask.
Without exceptions. 100% of the people who enter
the State of Israel will take a PCR test.
We are aware and have seen the lines, so two or three days ago
we gave an instruction to increase the number of checkpoints
and this has already been done.
At this point I want to ask, this is not a directive, this is a request.
Those who do not have to go abroad, don’t go abroad.
At this stage we do not change but the only reason is that
we want to study the information before we make different decisions.
I have certainly said that there may be significant changes in the policy
of leaving the country and entering the country.
Indeed, we have done all in our power, in a year without a state
budget, to start implementing the plan “Shield of the North” ―
a decision that will continue, and you will start seeing more
and more of it at the start of August. We are committed to fortify
and are obligated to erect a barrier and revive the resilience centers.
Not all of it will happen as quickly as we want, but we will make every
effort to granted you quiet and security and to enable
the north to cultivate its agriculture, to persist with strengthening
the Education System, to improve the Health System,
to invest in infrastructure and to maintain a security routine
and to promote a sense of security.
In the two decades which followed after the (military) campaign
(in Lebanon) the State of Israel continued to advance in technology;
in High Tech; Tourism; Agriculture and additional sectors.
Lebanon, in contrast, succumbed to terror and remained behind.
I see the distress of this beautiful country (Lebanon) and cannot forget
the thousands of Lebanese workers who crossed the border (into Israel)
daily to make a living and were the hope for a better future.
Therefore, I ask our Lebanese neighbors from here,
is this what you prayed for? Is this what you wanted?
Lebanon and its citizens are no enemies of the state of Israel.
It is Hezbollah that serves the interests of Iran and as a result
harms first-and-foremost Lebanon’s residents.
A new Iranian President was elected this week in elections which drew
the lowest voter-turnout of the past forty years,
lacking true public legitimacy, or any message of hope for his nation.
‘The hangman’ (refers to Raisi) threatens Iranian citizens
first and foremost. Putting him in that role proves
that Iran is heading toward greater extremism,
expansion, and continued pursuit of weapons of mass destruction
that may threaten the world, regional stability, and
the State of Israel, as well. Any state that chooses to become
part of the Iranian proliferation is putting itself at risk, harming its
citizens, and acting counter to its own national interest.
Israel will stand firm and will not pass over
a looming existential threat in silence.
I'm in a meeting while I am waiting for the fuel,
I do not know what to say.
Every day the same story, if there is fuel we go to work,
no fuel we stay home, we wait for the gas
stations owners to show empathy and let us fill our tanks.
Last Sunday the 6th round of (Iran nuclear) talks have ended.
The talks in Vienna have been and were very intense.
We are making progress, but there are still some nuts
to crack as we know. The setting of the talks remains
complex after the presidential elections in Iran.
We assume that even in the new setting after
the presidential elections in Iran there is a good chance
to finish those talks in the foreseeable future.
We are convinced that is worth to keep talking
over such a long period of time.