Talks between the Trade Union Federation (Histadrut) and the Treasury In the matter of public sector workers have broken down entirely, after a meeting between Histadrut chairman Arnon Ben-David and the Treasury's representative, Kobi Bar-Natan, failed to produce a solution acceptable to both sides.Following the meeting, Ben-David said, "We cannot allow such a sharp blow to fall In 700,000 employees who are the people powering the economy and working day and night for the benefit of the entire public. We must not let the coronavirus crisis be exploited in such a way as to reduce wages for public sector workers, when the government is concurrently handing out money to workers from other sectors - both to those who are need of the extra funds, and to those who are not."My job is to protect every single employee in the State of Israel," he continued, "and to improve conditions for everyone. I can Inly hope that the Finance Minister has the same interests in mind."

Channel 13 reports that more than 35 employees of the Supreme Court are in isolation, due to having come into contact with a confirmed coronavirus carrier.

Kan News reports that a strike of teachers and assistants in state-subsidized preschools has been averted, after representatives of the Finance Ministry reached a compromise solution found acceptable to all.

Israeli journalists to State Dept: What criteria was used to assemble list of journalists for historic Dubai trip?

A team of firefighters from Israel has arrived in San Francisco and is In its way to Sacramento to assist US firefighters in their battle against wildfires in the state of California.In the picture can be seen the firefighting team along with the Israeli consul-general in San Francisco, Shlomi Kaufman.Picture courtesy of the Foreign Ministry.Israeli firefighters heading to Californiaצילום: ללא קרדיט

The road had been closed at the Si'on junction due to a brush fire.

An IDF spokesperson has issued an official response to the incident that took place last Friday in Hevron, captured In film, in which a stone was thrown at an IDF soldier who failed to respond and simply remained at his post. "On the face of it and without watching the full video - the conduct seen in the video is not the behavior expected of IDF soldiers," the spokesperson said. "IDF fighters are required to act in order to prevent such incidents from occurring and to use force at their discretion and according to the instructions for opening fire."The army has reportedly completed a preliminary investigation into the matter whose results will be handed over to the head of the Central Command, Maj. Gen. Tamir Yedi, who will decide In any action to be taken.

Minister for Social Equality Merav Cohen (Blue & White) has expressed her grave concern at the high rate of contagion for coronavirus in the Arab sector."The situation vis-a-vis coronavirus in the Arab sector is extremely bad," she said. "Around 60% of all 'red' towns [where the rate of contagion is high] are Arab towns, and around 30% of the most recent diagnoses are Arabs. We have to provide a real solution in terms of publicity, enforcement of regulations, and support for local governments who are dealing with the epidemic."