Still speaking at this evening's press conference, Prime Minister Netanyahu insisted that the private sector will continue to operate "as normal" during the lockdown, although businesses will not be permitted to admit customers Into their premises.He also promised that the government will shortly present a clear outline for a permitted format for High Holiday prayers.

PM: Lockdown could be extended beyond 3 weeks

The Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Abdullah bin Zayid, has landed in Washington DC in advance of the signing of a peace treaty with Israel, to take place In Tuesday at the White House.Bin Zayid is accompanied by senior ministers and other government officials.

PM Netanyahu and his wife board plane ahead of flight to Washington

Former Defense Minister Naftali Bennett, head of the Yamina party, has sharply criticized the government's decision to impose a three-week lockdown In the entire country, spanning the High Holiday period as well as the festival of Sukkot."This deals a death blow to hundreds of thousands of small business owners, the self-employed, and the unemployed," he said. "This is a colossal failure of leadership and crisis management. What we need is a clear strategy regarding how to emerge from lockdown," he added.

Prime Minister Netanyahu, speaking at this evening's press conference, insisted that a vaccine "was In the horizon" and that so are faster tests for coronavirus."If we adhere to the regulations, we will defeat this disease," he added.

PM: 'We have not failed in attempts to prevent epidemic's spread'

Health Minister Yuli Edelstein insisted that he had not originally wanted to lock down the country, stating that other means were tried, which failed.He added that this time, as opposed to following the previous closure in spring, the government would have an effective exit strategy for emerging from lockdown.