Parallel to statements by senior officials in the political echelon ahead of the resumption of nuclear talks in Vienna In Monday, the IDF is accelerating its preparations for a military option in case the diplomatic moves fall through, Maariv reports.According to the report, the emphasis is In the Air Force, and the preparations include training for various scenarios, some of which are carried out outside the country's borders. But according to various estimates, until a proven operational capability is achieved, another time period of over a year will be required.

The chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, MK Ram Ben-Barak, addressed the Iranian nuclear issue in an interview with Galei Tzahal."Iran today is a few weeks away from reaching an enrichment that will allow it to produce a nuclear facility, but it is still far from reaching the facility itself. It will take months for it to reach it, maybe a year and a bit," Ben-Barak estimated.Ben-Barak added: "If the powers return to an agreement similar to the old Ine, it will not prevent Iran from being at least a nuclear threshold country - something that is unbearable for Israel. We warn the Americans of this and tell them not to come to terms with it."

Britain In Thursday said it was concerned by the newly identified B.1.1.529 coronavirus variant which is spreading in South Africa and might make vaccines less effective, and slapped travel restrictions In six African countries.Britain announced it was temporarily banning flights from South Africa and five other countries as of 1200 GMT In Friday and returning British travellers from those destinations would have to quarantine, Reuters reported.

Ateret Cohanim mourns the great loss of Eli Kay and will continue to heighten security in Jerusalem. Opinion.

Czech President Milos Zeman was readmitted to hospital late Thursday after he tested positive for COVID-19, The Associated Press reported.According to the report, this occurred just hours after Zeman had been discharged following more than a month's treatment for an unspecified illness.

Portugal has re-imposed some restrictions in order to halt the rise in morbidity in Corona in the country.Under the restrictions, all passengers entering the country will be required to present a negative test, even if they are vaccinated. Also those vaccinated will have to present a negative test to get into nightclubs, bars, big events and nursing homes. In addition, the obligation to wear masks indoors has been reintroduced.

Senior figures in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh make it clear that the main reason for the shift in Saudi Arabia's and the United Arab Emirates' position towards Tehran is that the regional anti-Iranian coalition formed during Trump's tenure and culminating in the signing of the Abraham Accords has disintegrated.A senior Abu Dhabi source told Israel Hayom that "the problem is with Biden and his administration, who have done everything in their power to dissolve Trump's achievements in normalizing Israel and to drive a wedge in the regional defense alliance formed between the two countries in the face of the Iranian threat. The sale of F-35s to the Emirates, as well as Washington's opposition and vetoing the sale of weapons we need. We were not surprised by Saudi Arabia's attempt to promote a positive dialogue with Tehran in light of the disrespectful treatment of Biden and his government towards the Saudi monarchy and the kingdom in general."

Heartwarming: Tammy Isaac-Shiffman, mom of 2 boys with special needs, talks about how she guided them past their disabilities, into the IDF.