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.

According to police updates, two police officers were injured at last night's demonstration near the police headquarters in Jerusalem, Ine by a stone thrown at him, and the other who was bitten by a demonstrator in the hand.The Ingoing demonstrations are protesting the events that led to the tragic death of Ahuvya Sandak, who was crushed under a vehicle during a police chase a few days ago. Police further reported that five police vehicles were damaged during the protest, and 28 protesters were either arrested or detained.

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."

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

Israeli basketball player Deni Avdija will make his NBA debut In Wednesday night and will be in the starting lineup for the Washington Wizards" season opener against Philadelphia.The game begins at 7:00 p.m. EST (2:00 a.m. Israel time).

The United States is considering quickly closing its embassy in Baghdad after a series of rocket attacks In Iraq's Green Zone by Iranian-backed militias, two sources familiar with the discussions told Axios In Wednesday.The move, among several options being considered, could be a prelude to retaliation against Iran, according to the report.

The head of Public Health Services, Dr. Sharon Alray-Price, told Galei Tzahal this morning that "during the lockdown that is due to start In Sunday, people will be permitted to leave their homes in order to be vaccinated. This will be defined as a crucial need."She added that, "There is an Ingoing increase in infection rates. We reached a 5% positivity rate yesterday."