2021 in Israel

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See also:	Other events of 2021 History of Israel • Timeline • Years

Events in the year 2021 in Israel.

Incumbents

• President of Israel: Reuven Rivlin
• Prime Minister of Israel: Benjamin Netanyahu
• President of Supreme Court of Israel: Esther Hayut
• Chief of General Staff: Aviv Kochavi
• Government of Israel: Thirty-fifth government of Israel

Events

January

• 1 January – Israel reaches the milestone of one million COVID-19 vaccinations, over 11% of the population, since the inoculation campaign began on 20 December 2020.[1]
• 13 January – The Israeli Air Force launches a series of airstrikes against Iranian targets in the Deir ez-Zor Governorate of Syria, killing dozens.[2]
• 17 January – The government approves the appointment of Kobi Shabtai as the Commissioner of the Israel Police, following a two-year period without a permanent appointee.[3]
• 24 January –
  • Israel opens an embassy in the United Arab Emirates with Eitan Na'eh as head of mission, in a temporary office until a permanent location is set up.[4]
  • Haredi protestors riot in Bnei Brak against COVID restrictions.[5]
• 25 January –
  • Israel extradites Malka Leifer to Australia, where she faces 74 charges in the Adass Israel School sex abuse scandal, after a six year legal battle to extradite her.[6]
  • The government bars all commercial flights into Israel until 31 January, to prevent the spread of more contagious variants of the COVID-19 virus.[7]

February

• 1 February – In an online signing ceremony, Kosovo and Israel establish diplomatic relations, and Kosovo becomes the first Muslim-majority state to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, committing to open its embassy in Jerusalem.[8]

Scheduled events

• Unspecified – The cabinet of the United Arab Emirates approves the establishment of an embassy in Tel Aviv.[4][9]
• 23 March – Elections for the 24th Knesset will take place.[10]

Deaths

• 18 January – Dani Shmulevich-Rom (b. 1940), Maccabi Haifa football player (1957–1973) and Israel national football team (1960–1970).[11]
• 24 January – Moshe Moskowitz (b. 1925), politician, head of the Shafir Regional Council (1952–1979) and Efrat town council (1980–1985).[12]
• 31 January – Yitzchok Scheiner (b. 1922), Haredi rabbi and rosh yeshiva of the Kamenitz Yeshiva of Jerusalem.[13]
• 31 January – Meshulam Dovid Soloveitchik (b. 1921), Haredi rabbi and rosh yeshiva of the Brisk Yeshiva in Jerusalem.[14]
• 31 January – Abraham J. Twerski, (b. 1930), Hasidic rabbi, author, and psychiatrist specializing in substance abuse.[15]
• 5 February – Ruth Dayan, (b. 1917), businesswoman, founder of Maskit fashion house, social activist and recipient of the President's Medal of Distinction.[16]

See also

• COVID-19 pandemic in Israel

References

1. "Israel zooms past 1 million vaccinations in sprint to vanquish pandemic". The Times of Israel. 1 Jan 2021. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
2. "Syria war: Suspected Israeli strikes on Iran-linked targets 'kill dozens'". BBC. 2021-01-13. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
3. "Cabinet okays Kobi Shabtai as permanent police chief, a job unfilled for 2 years". The Times of Israel. 2021-01-17. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
4. "Israel opens embassy in UAE, expanding new relations". Associated Press. 2021-01-24. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
5. Hendrix, Steve; Rubin, Shira (26 January 2021). "Violence erupts in Israel's ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods over coronavirus restrictions". The Washington Post. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
6. Ilan Ben Zion (25 January 2021). "Israel extradites woman wanted for sex crimes to Australia". Associated Press. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
7. "Israel halts all commercial flights in bid to keep virus variants at bay". The Times of Israel. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
8. "Israel, Kosovo establish diplomatic ties; Pristina to open embassy in Jerusalem". i24NEWS. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
9. "Mohammed bin Rashid chairs first UAE Cabinet meeting in 2021". WAM. 2021-01-24. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
10. Wootliff, Raoul (23 Dec 2020). "Israel calls 4th election in 2 years as Netanyahu-Gantz coalition collapses". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 23 Dec 2020.
11. אגדת מכבי חיפה, דני רום, הלך לעולמו בגיל 80 (in Hebrew)
12. David Israel. "Settlement Enterprise Stalwart Moshe Moskowitz Dead at 96; 11 Shevat 5781 – January 24, 2021". The Jewish Press. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
13. "Rabbi Yitzhok Scheiner, 98, dies of COVID during mass funeral of fellow top rabbi". The Times of Israel. 2021-01-31. Retrieved 2021-01-31.
14. Nachshoni, Kobi (2021-01-31). "Brisk Yeshiva head, Rabbi Meshulam Dovid Soloveitchik, passes away at 99". ynetnews. Retrieved 2021-01-31.
15. Julian, Hana (2021-01-31). "Update: Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski, Global Addiction Expert, Passes Away". JewishPress.com. Retrieved 2021-01-31.
16. Cashman, Greer Fay (2021-02-06). "Ruth Dayan, matriarch of an Israeli dynasty, dies at 103". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2021-02-07.