* Since midnight more than 20,000 confirmed with COVID, ministry says: The Health Ministry said on Thursday evening that since midnight and up to 6 pm, 20,381 people were confirmed with COVID-19. Out of the 886 people hospitalized with the virus, 287 are considered in serious condition, and 69 of them are on ventilators. After 41 people died since the beginning of January, the tally of dead has reached 8,293 since the pandemic began. According to the ministry, nearly half a million people have received the fourth dose of vaccine, most of them over the age of 60. (Yediot Aharonot, Haaretz)
* Coronavirus Czar: cannot say there will be no need for lockdown: Coronavirus czar Salman Zarka said on Thursday that although there was no gain to Israel's public health by instating more restrictions during the Omicron variant wave, he could not say definitely that the Health Ministry would not recommend a lockdown at some point in the future because of the overburdened state of hospitals caused by the coronavirus and seasonal illnesses. Zarka spoke at a daily press briefing as daily infection rates of COVID-19 continue to rise. (Yediot Aharonot, Haaretz)
* Bennett discusses Iran nuclear talks with Putin: Prime Minister Naftali Bennett spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin and discussed the ongoing talks between Iran and world power on reviving the nuclear deal, his office said on Thursday. According to a statement, the Israeli premier stressed the importance of presenting a "strong and determined stance" against the progress of Tehran's nuclear program. (Yediot Aharonot, Haaretz)
* Attorney General rejects Netanyahu's terms for plea deal: Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's attorney Boaz Ben Tzur recently approached Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit in an effort to secure a plea deal and end his trial on charges of corruption, according to media reports on Thursday. (Yediot Aharonot, Haaretz)
* Right-wing protesters demonstrate government West Bank policy: Thousands of right-wing demonstrators protested on Thursday outside the Prime Ministers Office in Jerusalem. They claim the government has been adopting a policy that has hurt the West Bank settlements. (Yediot Aharonot, Haaretz)
