H eadlines
ISRAELBRIEFS Average Salaries in Israel Drop 6.9% in April
AVERAGE MONTHLY PAY in Israel in April for
salaried employees was $3,552, down 6.9% from
March 2021, Globes reported, citing Central Bureau
of Statistics data.

The decline was attributed to the continuing trend
of employees in low-paid fields, including catering
and entertainment, returning from unpaid leave after
COVID-19 restrictions were lifted.

The number of people working in salaried positions
in April was 3.5 million. That’s up 33.6% from the
same month in 2020 and up 1.3% from March.

The statistics bureau also announced that the broad
unemployment rate, which includes people on unpaid
leave, fell to 9.5%, or 398,000, in the second half of
June. That compares to 9.9% in the second half of May.

Up to a Day’s Isolation Now Required
for Those Entering Israel
Starting on July 16, anyone entering Israel will be
required to isolate for up to 24 hours, the Health
Ministry announced, as reported by The Jerusalem
Post. The obligation applies to both vaccinated and
unvaccinated people. Isolation is required until a
negative coronavirus test taken at the airport arrives
or up to one day, whichever comes first.

In addition, the ministry updated its list of
high-risk countries. When Israelis return from these
countries, they must enter isolation regardless of their
vaccination status: United Arab Emirates, Seychelles,
Ecuador, Ethiopia, Bolivia, Guatemala, Honduras,
Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, Paraguay, Chile,
Colombia, Costa Rica, Kyrgyzstan and Tunisia.

That isolation period is typically 14 days, although
it can be shortened to 10 days with two negative tests;
the second test is taken on the ninth day.

Defense Ministry Announces it Will Take
Control of Hamas Virtual Currencies
The Defense Ministry said it will begin seizing digital
wallets that contain virtual currencies from overseas
donations that Hamas is using, The Times of Israel
reported. Defense Minister Benny Gantz approved the
measure after an operation “uncovered a web of
electronic wallets” Hamas used to raise money using
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, the ministry said.

The cryptocurrency stockpiles were being operated
from the Gaza Strip.

Aside from Bitcoin, digital currencies seized
including XRP, Ethereum, Tether and Dogecoin, in
accordance with the 2016 Counter-Terrorism Law.

“The intelligence, technological and legal tools
that enable us to get our hands on terrorists’ money
around the world constitute an operational break-
through,” Gantz said in a statement.

Israel to Increase Water Supply to Jordan
Israel said it would significantly increase the amount
of water it supplies to Jordan, as that nation struggles
with shortfalls, The Times of Israel reported.

Under a deal signed July 8, Israel will supply
Jordan with an extra 50 million cubic meters (65
million cubic yards) of water to Jordan in 2021,
according to Israel’s Foreign Ministry. Israel provides
water to Jordan annually under a 1994 agreement.

The meeting between Foreign Minister Yair Lapid
and his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi at a
crossing point over the Jordan River was the first
public encounter between top Israeli and Jordanian
officials since the new Israeli government was estab-
lished. Ties between the two countries have grown
strained in recent years. l
— Compiled by Andy Gotlieb
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