Daniel Estrin

The men who bang drums to wake people up for the early-morning Ramadan meal in Gaza have added rhymes to their cadences to remind people to wash their hands and stay safe.

The U.S. is calling for more tracking and surveillance to stem the spread of the coronavirus. Such technology is already heavily used in other countries, fueling debates over health versus privacy.

The report, released Monday by researchers at Tel Aviv University, notes an 18% increase in anti-Semitic violence in 2019 and recent accusations blaming Jews for causing and spreading the coronavirus.

After three inconclusive elections over the past 12 months, Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu manages to negotiate another 18 months in office as the coronavirus pushes aside political wrangling.

The right-wing leader would stay in office until October 2021, when the role would pass to centrist Benny Gantz. The agreement is set to break the deadlock Israel has faced over three elections.

The coronavirus did not stop the centuries-old tradition observed annually at the tomb of Jesus. But adjustments were made. It was broadcast live to countless Orthodox Christians around the world.

In the shadow of Israeli watchtowers and settlements, Palestinians have set up improvised checkpoints to enforce a Palestinian Authority lockdown in areas where Palestinian police can't patrol.

The virus is upending burial traditions across cultures, from the washing of the body of a loved one in Iraq to the gathering of mourners in Israel.

The elaborate funeral pyres of India, the seven-day mourning among Jews in Israel and the sacred body washing of Muslims in Iraq, are all important rituals of death now in disarray amid the pandemic.

The leaders of Hungary, Israel and the Philippines have exploited the coronavirus crisis to consolidate their hold on power and weaken institutions that could curb them.

Usually quiet Israeli government agencies and contractors are going public with their battle against COVID-19.

Ultra-Orthodox Jews make up about 12% of Israel's population — but account for many of Israel's COVID-19 cases. This week a senior rabbi finally urged his followers to obey government lockdown orders.

Gaza braces for onset of coronavirus cases. West Bank's early restrictions may have staved off a crisis. And, Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu is self-quarantined and will be named prime minister again.

After three inconclusive elections, Netanyahu and his rival Benny Gantz are reportedly close to a deal to rotate as prime minister, with Netanyahu taking the first turn.

Violence hasn't ended, but it's barely registering headlines. "The corona doesn't care about religion," says Palestinian cartoonist Safaa Odah. "Doesn't care where you live."

Israelis and Palestinians have — if only briefly — set aside some of their mutual suspicion for concern amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The family of 88-year-old Arie Even said they were saddened not to be able to be with him during his final days. They were asked to stay away in order not to catch the virus.

The move draws criticism over privacy, as concerns rise about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's attempts to stay in power.

Israel is using phone data to track people potentially exposed to the coronavirus. That touched off a backlash among Israelis worried about the direction of their democracy

Israel's challenger to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu now gets another chance to form a new government after a third close election and a year of political uncertainty.