Woman who recently returned from South Africa is 2nd case of new COVID strain which has world spooked in Israel.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett lit the first Hanukkah candle at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. The event took place in the presence of the Western Wall Rabbi, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, and the Director General of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, Mordechai Eliav. Prior to the lighting, the Prime Minister toured the "Great Bridge" route, the route of the new Western Wall tunnels that has not yet been unveiled to the public, which led pilgrims into the Temple during the Second Temple period.

A new poll gives Likud 35 seats, Yesh Atid 19, Shas 9, Blue and White 8, Labor 7, Religious Zionism 7, Joint List 7, United Torah Judaism 7, Yisrael Beiteinu 7, United Arab List 6, Yamina 4, Meretz 4, and New Hope 0. This gives the opposition block 58 seats, the coalition 55, and the Joint List neutral with 7.

A 15-year-old boy was hit by a vehicle while riding a scooter In Dolev Street in Caesarea. MDA medics evacuated him to Hillel Yaffe Hospital with head and limb injuries.

United Hatzalah medics provided first aid to a moderately injured person (about 30 years old) and two lightly injured people at the scene of an accident at Atarot junction.

Minister Matan Kahana announces legislation to protect freedom of speech of municipal rabbis. MK Bezalel Smotrich says he will support it.

MK Moshe Gafni claims to have been contacted by senior coalition officials with offers to join the government. "In recent days, senior coalition officials have asked me to join the government. My answer was no! We will not join this bad government. I understand why they feel stressed, and we will overthrow them soon," he said.

South African physician who discovered Omicron variant says panic at this stage is unwarranted, noting most cases are 'very mild'.