Israel’s Bennett Tests Negative for COVID-19 after Daughter Infected

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speaks at the weekly cabinet meeting in Kibbutz Mevo Hama in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, December 26, 2021. (Reuters)
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speaks at the weekly cabinet meeting in Kibbutz Mevo Hama in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, December 26, 2021. (Reuters)
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Israel’s Bennett Tests Negative for COVID-19 after Daughter Infected

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speaks at the weekly cabinet meeting in Kibbutz Mevo Hama in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, December 26, 2021. (Reuters)
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speaks at the weekly cabinet meeting in Kibbutz Mevo Hama in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, December 26, 2021. (Reuters)

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett tested negative on Sunday for COVID-19 after his 14-year-old daughter was infected by the coronavirus, his office said.

Bennett had left the weekly meeting of his cabinet and headed home to self-isolate after learning of his daughter's positive test, which came amid fast-spreading infections in Israel caused by the Omicron variant.

Bennett later took a PCR test, which came out negative, but decided to remain in isolation for the time being as a precaution, his office said in a statement. Bennett received a vaccine booster shot on Aug. 20.

The premier's daughter had been vaccinated against COVID-19, his office said. It did not disclose whether she had been infected by Omicron or the Delta variant also prevalent in Israel.

Bennett drew public criticism after his wife and children went on holiday abroad early this month, despite his calls for Israelis to help stem Omicron's spread by cancelling plans to fly overseas.

His government later approved measures barring Israelis from traveling to most countries. Those edicts were preceded by an Israeli ban on the entry of foreigners. Israel has reported 1,118 confirmed cases of Omicron, with the number of people infected by the variant now doubling every two days.



Trump Signals US May Ease Iran Oil Sanction Enforcement to Help Rebuild Country

In this picture obtained from the Iranian Mizan News Agency on June 25, 2025, excavator is used to clear the rubble outside the Evin prison complex in Tehran that was hit days ago by an Israeli strike. (AFP)
In this picture obtained from the Iranian Mizan News Agency on June 25, 2025, excavator is used to clear the rubble outside the Evin prison complex in Tehran that was hit days ago by an Israeli strike. (AFP)
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Trump Signals US May Ease Iran Oil Sanction Enforcement to Help Rebuild Country

In this picture obtained from the Iranian Mizan News Agency on June 25, 2025, excavator is used to clear the rubble outside the Evin prison complex in Tehran that was hit days ago by an Israeli strike. (AFP)
In this picture obtained from the Iranian Mizan News Agency on June 25, 2025, excavator is used to clear the rubble outside the Evin prison complex in Tehran that was hit days ago by an Israeli strike. (AFP)

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the US has not given up its maximum pressure on Iran - including restrictions on sales of Iranian oil - but signaled a potential easing in enforcement to help the country rebuild.

"They're going to need money to put that country back into shape. We want to see that happen," Trump said at a news conference at the NATO Summit when asked if he was easing oil sanctions on Iran.

Trump said a day earlier that China can continue to purchase Iranian oil after Israel and Iran agreed to a ceasefire, but the White House later clarified that his comments did not indicate a relaxation of US sanctions.

Trump imposed waves of Iran-related sanctions on several of China's independent "teapot" refineries and port terminal operators for purchases of Iranian oil.

Steve Witkoff, Trump's Middle East envoy, told CNBC that Trump's comment on China's ability to buy Iranian oil "was a signal to the Chinese that we want to work with you, that we're not interested in hurting your economy."

China is the top buyer of Iranian crude and has long opposed Trump's sanctions on the oil.

"We're interested in working together with you in unison, and hopefully that becomes a signal to the Iranians," Witkoff said.