Exactly half of the 160 Israeli passengers who had intended to depart were actually able to board the Lufthansa LH690 rescue flight from Frankfurt to Israel on Tuesday evening. The rest had no choice but to stay in the airport indefinitely • Full Story

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that Israel won’t rely on the Biden administration’s efforts to return to a nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic. “On Erev Purim, I say to those who seek to destroy us: Iran and its proxies in the Middle East: 2,500 years ago, another Persian tyrant tried to destroy the Jewish nation and just like he failed then, you’ll fail today,” the prime minister said • Full Story

The L’Chaim of Dovid Akselrod of Kiryat Olga, ER”Y and Mushka Hendel of Crown Heights took place in the Eshel Hall in Crown Heights. Photos by ChabadInfo.com photographer Shneur Reinitz • Photos

As a series of preparations begin like every year at the Kosel before Pesach, a new practice was done earlier today with the workers using a syringe on the Kosel stones to prevent them from transmitting Covid-19 between the hundreds of Mispalelim that come every day • Photos

Israel unveiled a plan on Saturday to allow people who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus to attend cultural events, fly abroad and go to health clubs and restaurants • Full Story

Last night, Chassidim and Shluchim from across Eretz Yisroel gathered for the birthday Farbrengen of one of the original Shluchim sent to ER”Y by the Rebbe, Rabbi Zushe Posner. Despite Rabbi Posner’s frail health, he spent many hours Farbrenging for those there • Photos, Videos

Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, President Reuven Rivlin and Knesset Speaker MK Yariv Levin all sent letters of condolence to the family of the Shliach to Milan, Rabbi Gershon Mendel Garelik, following his passing • Full Story

Earlier today, Chaim V’Chessed reported that Delta Airlines will become the first non-Israeli airline to be permitted to operate flights during the current flight ban • Full Story

Dozens of Lubavitcher Rabbonim and Roshei Yeshivos from across Eretz Yisroel signed a letter urging the public to go and get vaccinated as per their doctor’s instructions • Full Letter

The deputy education minister of Israel, Rabbi Meir Porush, toured the Lubavitch Mosods on the settlement of Yitzhar this week and was very impressed with the quality of the Mosdos • Photos

Throughout the Corona crisis, Chaim V’Chessed has worked hand in hand with Rabbi Zvi Gluck, President of Amudim, and Rabbi Nechemya Malinowitz, Director of the Igud, on all matters relating to entry for foreigners into Israel. Now, for the first time, all three organizations have issued a Joint Travel Advisory, regarding travel during the upcoming Pesach season • Full Story

Israel on Wednesday became the 10th country to join the United Arab Emirates-led World Logistics Passport program, in a move that will allow Israeli firms to expand trade to countries in the southern hemisphere • Full Story

The US Department of Transportation officially complained to its Israeli counterpart after only El Al was granted an exception to continue flying into Israel despite the border closure, government sources confirmed on Thursday • Full Story

Chaim V’Chessed has been incessantly lobbying for additional emergency flights between Israel and the United States. We have just learned that El Al will operate more emergency flights to and from the USA • Full Story

Germany and Hungary have voiced their opposition to the International Criminal Court’s ruling that it can investigate Israel for alleged war crimes. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said: “Our legal view on jurisdiction of the ICC regarding alleged crimes committed in the Palestine territories remains unchanged. The court has no jurisdiction, because of the absence of the element of Palestinian statehood required by international law.” • Full Story

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office pushed back against U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken over his comments that stopped short of endorsing the Trump administration’s recognition of the Golan Heights in 2019 • Full Story

A group of Israeli researchers have launched a Phase II study of a drug that they believe could keep patients off mechanical ventilation and speed their recovery. The trial, which is being collectively run by Ziv and Rambam medical centers with researchers from Bar-Ilan University and Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, is examining the use of a drug based on a naturally occurring peptide called angiotensin 1-7 to help counter the impact of COVID-19 on the lungs • Full Story

Chabad photographer Meir Alfasi, who is currently stuck in Costa Rica due to Israel’s flight ban, was brutally robbed by locals. Alfasi arrived at 770 for Yud Shvat a few weeks ago and then did some photography work in Costa Rica, where he was robbed and left without money, luggage, and his expensive photography equipment • Full Story

Following the decision to ban flights into Israel, Government officials told journalist R. Motti Tochfeld — who is assisting Anash families — that starting from Sunday night, it will be possible to submit a request to the Exceptions Committee for permission to enter Israel before the sky closes again • Full Story

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday accused the International Criminal Court at The Hague of anti-Semitism after it ruled that it has jurisdiction to open a war crimes investigation against Israel • Full Story

On Friday, February 5, the Israeli Cabinet voted to extend the travel ban through February 20. In conjunction with this, the Cabinet announced new rules and regulations for entry and exit from Israel. The new rules are quite confusing; in this post, Chaim V’Chessed clarifies the major points of the new rules • Full Story

The Kosel plaza was opened on Sunday morning to everyone, under the restrictions of the Ministry of Health, for prayers divided into designated areas, though the Kosel Heritage Foundation asked visitors to obey the orders of the ushers • Photos

Friday’s 2-1 ruling by the International Criminal Court’s three-member Pre-Trial Chamber in The Hague significantly advanced the possibility of such suits, although this is not the final step. The matter now returns to the hands of ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda for further investigation as whether war crimes suits could be filed. The process could still be a protracted and lengthy one • Full Story

Yesterday, Wednesday, February 3, the Knesset passed legislation regarding the current ban on flights in and out of Israel. Media reports have mistakenly stated that this legislation extends the ban for two more weeks. This is inaccurate. Rather, the legislation enshrines the current flight ban in law, since its legality was actually quite questionable until this point • Full Story

Betzalel Smotrich’s National Religious Party and Itamar Ben Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit signed an agreement on Thursday to run together in the March elections • Full Story