Israel Reopens Education System on Thursday

Ultra-Orthodox Jews pray at a playground next to their homes as they wear protective face masks help curb the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in Bnei Brak, Israel, Thursday, July 2, 2020.  (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
Ultra-Orthodox Jews pray at a playground next to their homes as they wear protective face masks help curb the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in Bnei Brak, Israel, Thursday, July 2, 2020. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
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Israel Reopens Education System on Thursday

Ultra-Orthodox Jews pray at a playground next to their homes as they wear protective face masks help curb the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in Bnei Brak, Israel, Thursday, July 2, 2020.  (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
Ultra-Orthodox Jews pray at a playground next to their homes as they wear protective face masks help curb the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in Bnei Brak, Israel, Thursday, July 2, 2020. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

Israel began reopening its education system on Thursday after a more than six-week closure due to the country’s worrying surge in coronavirus infections.

Kindergartens and first to fourth grades opened in cities with low infection rates, with around one-fifth of the country’s pupils returning to classrooms.

Middle schools and high schools remained closed.

Israel began easing restrictions on Sunday after more than a month of nationwide lockdown, The Associated Press reported.

It has vaccinated more than 3.5 million citizens with an initial dose of the Pfizer vaccine, but infection rates remain high.

The Health Ministry reported more than 711,000 confirmed cases, including at least 5,265 deaths.



Israel Says it Has Secured $8.7 Billion US Aid Package

A worker is raised on a forklift at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted an apartment on al-Qaem street in Beirut's southern suburbs on September 26, 2024. (Photo by Ibrahim AMRO / AFP)
A worker is raised on a forklift at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted an apartment on al-Qaem street in Beirut's southern suburbs on September 26, 2024. (Photo by Ibrahim AMRO / AFP)
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Israel Says it Has Secured $8.7 Billion US Aid Package

A worker is raised on a forklift at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted an apartment on al-Qaem street in Beirut's southern suburbs on September 26, 2024. (Photo by Ibrahim AMRO / AFP)
A worker is raised on a forklift at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted an apartment on al-Qaem street in Beirut's southern suburbs on September 26, 2024. (Photo by Ibrahim AMRO / AFP)

Israel said on Thursday it had secured an $8.7 billion aid package from the United States package to support its ongoing military efforts.

The package includes $3.5 billion for essential wartime procurement, which has already been received and earmarked for critical military purchases, and $5.2 billion designated for air defense systems including the Iron Dome anti-missile system and an advanced laser system.

Israel is currently fighting on two fronts, against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.