Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has told ministers that despite the wish to impose restrictions for the duration of the Hanukkah festival, which starts this evening, in practice it will prove impossible to do so from this evening.

PM, defense and health ministers agree not to impose new COVID-19 restrictions over Hanukkah following opposition from other ministers.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has sent Hanukkah greetings to Jews across the world in advance of the festival that begins this evening, the Turkish news site Yeni Safak (New Dawn) reports."In an age in which anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and xenophobia are spreading like a pandemic, Turkey will continue to be a model for the entire world," Erdoğan said."I extend my best wishes to Jewish citizens of Turkey and the entire Jewish community around the world In the occasion of Hanukkah, and wish them peace."

Speaking In Radio 103FM today, Prof. Shuki Shemer, director of Assuta hospital in Ashdod, said that a third nationwide lockdown is "unavoidable.""The infection rate is rising, and it seems that a third lockdown can no longer be averted," Shemer said.Referring to the government's recent failed attempt to impose a night curfew for the next few weeks, he said that, "One of the problems with a night curfew was that it's impossible to enforce something like that, and that would have damaged public confidence in the government."

A Tel Aviv restaurant has been fined 5,000 NIS over violation of the coronavirus guidelines.The restaurant will remain closed until it deposits a bank guarantee of 20,000 NIS with the guideline enforcement authorities.

Even as the first Israelis were vaccinated today with Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine, Knesset member Eli Avidar (Israel Our Home) stated in an interview with Radio 103 FM his reason for refusing to be vaccinated.Avidar said it was nothing more than a power play of the prime minister to insist that the vaccine is for everyone and that no stigma should be attached to those not wanting to be vaccinated.

The government is expected to today approve a modified form of night curfew for the days of Hanukkah, starting this evening.People in Jewish-majority towns and cities will be banned from visiting Ine another's homes in the evenings, and people from more than Ine household will not be permitted to meet at all in any location.The original plan was to impose the restrictions from half past five in the evening until midnight. However, Finance Minister Yisrael Katz is now demanding that the restrictions begin Inly from seven in the evening.

Speaking In Radio 103 FM today, Shas MK Michael Malchieli commented In his party's recent support of PM Netanyahu, and suggested that the policy would continue."In recent campaigns, Shas supported Netanyahu and is still supporting Netanyahu now," he said. "We hope that together with him we will be able to form a large bloc and a stable government with the ability to govern."Malchieli added, however, that, "When it comes to issues related to preserving Jewish tradition and also those related to welfare, we do not trust Netanyahu - Inly ourselves."