Israel’s second wave of COVID-19 cases. The state of the government amid a spate of protests. The massive explosion that devastated Beirut.

All were part of the Aug. 6 Israel Update from JUF’s Jewish Community Relations Council and Ofer Bavly, Director General of the JUF’s Israel office.

Before Bavly began, JCRC Chair Michael Zaransky reminded those joining the session of JUF’s continuing efforts to assist critical social service agencies and the broader community in responding to the coronavirus crisis.

“The needs are great,” Zaransky said, “and we can all be proud that JUF has been responding under these circumstances to the needs, both throughout the Jewish community and to those most vulnerable here in Chicago.”

In his report, Bavly said the resurgence of the coronavirus in Israel after weeks of decline was significant, with both the infection rate and the death toll continuing to climb. Some hospital ICUs were nearing capacity and were short on personal protective equipment, and the unemployment rate, while down from the 25% level it hit in March and April, was still at 17-18%. Newly named coronavirus czar Ronni Gamzu had instituted a Red-Yellow-Green system to designate differing infection levels and restrictions around the country.

But the military’s Biological Institute at Ness Ziona had just announced significant progress on developing a COVID-19 vaccine, and said large-scale human trials would begin in October. It was unlikely, however, that any vaccine would be widely available for use before May or June of next year.

“There is a strong chance that the actual breakthrough will come out of Israel,” Bavly said, “which would be extremely good news not only for Israel but for the rest of world, as (a vaccine) would undoubtably be shared globally.”

In the political arena, Bavly said the coalition government anchored by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party and Defense Minister Benny Gantz’s Blue & White Party is fragile and teetering on the edge of breakup. New disagreements emerge daily, most significantly related to the duration of a new budget. Gantz and others contend a two-year plan is needed to stabilize the economy, while Netanyahu says the unpredictability of the pandemic’s economic impact makes it impossible to budget beyond the end of this year. Failure to pass a budget would trigger Israel’s fourth election in less than two years.

Despite escalating anti-Netanyahu protests that have regularly drawn thousands to the streets outside the prime minister’s home and in Tel Aviv, and proceedings in Netanyahu’s corruption trial scheduled to resume in January, Bavly said Netanyahu could see new elections as working to his advantage because there is no clear leadership or organization in the opposition.

Pivoting to the situation in Israel’s north, Bavly said Hezbollah and its Iranian benefactors are trying to establish a foothold in the Syrian Golan Heights. Artillery, rockets and proxy forces have been deployed in the area near Israel’s northeast tip. In response, Israel has struck several of these stockpiles in order to prevent their use against civilians. There also have been attempts by Hezbollah terrorists to infiltrate Israel’s northern borders, as well as rocket strikes against communities along the border.

Much of that, however, took place prior to the blast that destroyed virtually 80% of Beirut’s port. The explosion occurred as Lebanon already was facing a devastating economic crisis, numerous anti-government protests, and the global pandemic. With the port gone, the country — a net importer of food – could face an immense food crisis within weeks, Bavly said. The resulting anger of the Lebanese people has been directed not just at the government, but also at Hezbollah, the Iranian proxy group committed to the destruction of Israel that holds major sway in the country.

On the humanitarian front, Israel has offered aid to Lebanon, but has been rebuffed. As a sign of solidarity with the Lebanese people, Tel Aviv city hall was lit in the colors of the Lebanese flag.