You Must Be Kidding: 
"Because of the coronavirus," Israel's Education Ministry reduced the number of topics that will be on the high school civics matriculation exam this summer: all those related to aspects of the Jewish character of Israel will remain, but questions about the High Court of Justice, the historical roots of the conflict between Jews and Arabs and inequality in contemporary Israel won't and it will include very little about the rule of law.**

Elections 2020/Netanyahu Indictment Commentary/Analysis:
Netanyahu Dispatches His Mercenaries to Thrash Israel's Top Court (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) Amid Israel's constitutional crisis, Knesset speaker sinks to new lows and Benny Gantz faces the greatest dilemma of his life.
Public servants calling for a rebellion are crushing the High Court (Ben Caspit, Maariv) Yesterday at nine o'clock, the Speaker of the Knesset announced his decision: I do not intend to comply with the High Court's ultimatum, he stated. Something big has happened in Israel. A High Court decision is seen as an ultimatum. In a moment, Edelstein will say he feels like a Prisoner of Zion again. The judges abducted him. And let's not forget: The High Court did not even make a decision, it only demanded that Edelstein justify his decision not to allow the Knesset Speaker to be elected, even though 61 MKs demanded it in writing. This event is formative. Remember this day. The prophecy of Amir Ohana, soon after being launched out of nowhere to the post of "Minister of Justice," came true prematurely. No, there is no need to respect court rulings. Period, end. The end of us all, and the beginning of anarchy. You can criticize the High Court. You could say he's wrong. It’s possible and it is done, too. I did it, too. But, until recently, it was clear that court rulings must be respected. History will judge us, the journalists, with severity: The most important news broadcast in Israel did not bother to report yesterday (at least until 8:30 pm) on the calls by senior ministers, including the Minister of Justice, not to comply with the High Court ruling. A senior minister announced that the High Court Chief Justice is running over the Knesset with a bulldozer. Public servants call for a revolt, they are demolishing the High Court and turning the vision of a mob armed with pitchforks charging the court from a nightmare into realistic. The prime minister?  Silent at best, dispatching his envoys to continue unrestrained attacks on the court, at best. All this for what reason? The High Court has not even made its decision yet. It instructed the Speaker of the Knesset to explain why he did not meet the demand of most MKs (61) to elect a new chairman. It was enough to drive the Rottweilers mad to the sounds of the masses. And the media, the last watchdog of democracy, is turning its other cheek. In the meantime, the magnitude of chaos is becoming more apparent when it comes to managing the Corona crisis. Talks with many and talented senior officials within the entourage around the prime minister reveals a troubling reality. There is no organized headquarters, no manager, everyone is struggling for the attention of one man, whose eyes are adorned with black circles and who is torn between the Ministry of Health and the Treasury, regretting and retracting five times an hour, eight hours a day, almost every day, including yesterday. The National Emergency Authority, which was to coordinate this headquarters, was absconded and almost dismantled. The national information system is paralyzed, abandoned…And it is impossible without the person who has made a hostile takeover of the State Comptroller's Office recently, Matanyahu Engelman [a Netanyahu pick - OH]. This person sat yesterday and said, unabashedly, these things: "This is a forward-looking criticism. The epidemic was found to be a real risk to the State of Israel.” He was pleased to finally submit the State Comptroller's Report (prepared in the days of his predecessor, Yossi Shapiro). A serious report revealing the state of the health system states that Israel is not ready for the epidemic and is issuing some other resounding assertions that demonstrate how neglected the system that is supposed to save our lives is here. So whats the problem? It’s simple: The report was ready in November 2019. The final draft was then passed on to auditors. According to the practice of the Comptroller's Office for years, this kind of report is published between four and six weeks after the final draft is submitted. But Engelman, who came to whitewash and waste time, delayed the publication. This report could have been published in January and perhaps, together with the corona eruption in China in December, would have lit some warning lights. Maybe some health ministry officials would bother ordering some protective containers of protective measures, at least for medical teams. Maybe they would think of swabs! [Reference to what was missing when the Mossad recently ordered tests - OH] But no. The state comptroller buried the report and intended to publish it only in May! After that, with great audacity, he declares that it is a "forward-looking criticism.”…And something else: “The audit found deficiencies in the way the Ministry of Health, the health funds and the hospital system were prepared,” the auditor states. Ministry of Health? Who's there? Who has been the Minister of Health most of the last 11 years? No names. At the Comptroller's Office, they tried to pressure to make the names appear at least in the footnotes. No. The state comptroller blocked it with his body. He is not here to criticize. He's here to bury.

Necessary intervention of the High Court for the protection of the Knesset (Prof. Susie Navot, Ynet Hebrew) The ruling on the issue (of a vote for a new) Knesset Speaker was a lesson in citizenship that seemed to be forgotten: a separate government and a separate Knesset. Knesset Speaker Edelstein, who anyway is in a conflict of interests, exceeded his authority.
The High Court is making society suffer (Dr. Haim Shine, Israel Hayom) The principle of separation of powers no longer exists, and the public's faith in the Supreme Court is dwindling to the level of its faith – or lack thereof – in the country's political parties.
This time, High Court intervention is justified and essential (Prof. Daniel Friedman, Yedioth Hebrew) The Speaker of the Knesset is undermining the foundations of democracy, and it is good the court decided as it did.
The High Court's intervention in the issue of the Knesset Speaker is a violation of the principle of separation of powers (Simcha Rotman, Maariv) The High Court judges' decision to discuss the convening of the plenary is reminiscent of the Little Prince's decision, when he told the sun to shine when it already shines and to set when it sets, and in that way, he thought he was having an effect.
Edelstein's choice (Sima Kadmon, Yedioth Hebrew) Yuli Edelstein had to choose between war and disgrace yesterday. He could say to Netanyahu and to the director of the Knesset Albert Sakharovitz that he has no intention of trampling on the Knesset's dignity and that he chooses to fight for its independence. This is what a stately Knesset Speaker would do, a speaker who understands the immensity of the moment and the immensity of the role. That is what a brave man would do, a man with a spine and an inner compass, who did not surrender to the prime minister and refuse to become a rag doll in his hands. But Edelstein chose disgrace. His response to the High Court, which ordered him to answer whether he intended to convene the plenary and vote on the replacement of the speaker, is inconceivable. He, Edelstein, believes the court's intervention in its discretion is wrong these days. Or in other words, Edelstein said: I am don’t care a hoot for the High Court and its decisions…
After the corona we will discover that we have become two peoples (Chen Artzi-Srur, Yedioth/Ynet Hebrew) Jews are experts in divisions. And the more our narrow and sparse common denominator continues to fall apart, we are heading there. Each to his tent Israel. There is no greater danger than this…While the medical teams are battling an invisible enemy at the forefront, while we are all preoccupied with such great fears as livelihood, health or loneliness, a different opera is taking place in the Knesset. There they fight foxes, overt and covert tricks, to earn another day or two of superiority over the opponent. They trust us to stay dormant. We will continue to worry about tomorrow - arrangements for the children, shopping for older parents, how to organize a holiday out of a house that has become a fortress. As long as we are busy, tired, exhausted, the rules of the game can be changed. Yuli Edelstein, who was a symbol of stateliness and a presidential candidate, fought to keep his chair. It was embarrassing, he was small. The current Minister of Justice, who aspires to be the future Minister of Justice, calls for the High Court to be ignored. The Minister of Culture declares within the House of Representatives that anyone who voted for the Joint List is a terrorist supporter. An unbelievable statement. But these jarring sounds have no audience…And when we get out of this long continuing night, it is unclear what world we will wake up to. What kind of society. At the moment, everyone in his home physically and metaphorically. The little house…became the essence of everything. But the day after, when we look outside, we will see there is nowhere to look. Under darkness they have changed the rules, institutions have lost their meaning. A court is a recommendation, a House of Representatives is only a house of certain representatives…
Blue and White's Plan B will backfire (Avi Bareli, Israel Hayom) With all political eyes on Benny Gantz, not enough people have noticed that Blue and White No. 2 Yair Lapid is trying to reinstate direct elections for the prime minister, which caused irreparable damage to Israel's political system.
Netanyahu's coronavirus circus (MK Avigdor Liberman, Yedioth/Ynet) Without a proper rehabilitation plan for the economy and better handling of the health crisis, the day we declare victory over the virus will also be the day we announce the death of countless Israelis businesses.
Gantz can be prime minister after he gets experience in a unity government with the most experienced of all (Yossi Ahimeir, Maariv) The public expects him to break free of the cockpit of hostility and take the required leadership step this week, and establish with the Likud a unity government, which is needed at this difficult time.

Other Interesting Corona Commentary/Analysis:
If leaders like David Ben-Gurion and Menachem Begin were with us today, things would feel different (Ephraim Ganor, Maariv) You can feel in these crazy days a yearning for a responsible adult who radiates concern for the resilience, credibility and genuine concern for the people’s needs. This is definitely not what Netanyahu is broadcasting to the people in his theatrical performances.
Preparing for an Economic Crisis (Haaretz Editorial) An exceptional crisis requires a dynamic government response suited to the accumulating economic challenges. The usual paradigms, which are based solely on minimal government intervention – keeping the budget deficit under control and capitulating to lobby groups – can’t continue in this new situation…The most important messages the government must send are that it’s taking responsibility for dealing with the economic crisis and its victims; that it’s concerned for the entire population, and above all for those who have been affected, not just lobby groups; and that it’s willing to use every possible tool to prevent a prolonged economic and social crisis.
The Titanic is already here (Yehuda Sharoni, Maariv) The aid program that will be presented is too little and too late. Business owners need oxygen like those infected with the corona virus. Finance is their respirator but the number of machines is limited.
Netanyahu's Coronavirus Fear-mongering Is Causing Irreversible Damage to the Economy (Hagai Amit, Haaretz+) Treasury aiming to get economy functioning after Passover, but prime minister could snag the recovery.
Israel's economy needs resuscitation, not Netanyahu's outdated ideals (Sever Plocker, Yedioth/Ynet) With a mere one-tenth of the amount needed to save jobs, pensions, companies and businesses the prime minister is committing an unforgivable crime that could bring country to its knees.
Pandemic's impact on Israel's national security cannot be ignored (Prof. Efraim Inbar, Israel Hayom) Israel's national security is unquestionably compromised by the global coronavirus outbreak. The assertion that preoccupation with the pandemic will temper the behavior of Israel's enemies is wishful and mistaken thinking.
The Coronavirus Endgame Strategy: How We Exit the Lockdown Stage (Ran Balicer, Haaretz+) If Israel doesn't control the rate of coronavirus transmission, tens of thousands of people could get infected in the next two weeks…Even if Israel were a country with the optimal ICU infrastructure, the health system would collapse after a week. And it doesn’t have the optimal ICU infrastructure – instead, we’re at the bottom of the charts in the index of ICU beds for the population. Therefore, at this time there is only one solution: a dramatic reduction in the number of those infected, starting tomorrow, in order to halt the multiplication. Otherwise, within two weeks Israel could reach tens of thousands of people infected, and a week later 5 percent of them would fill up all the country’s ICU beds. Such a reduction is attainable only one way: home quarantine. For every person in his home and with his nuclear family, and to have no contact, even the most minimal, with other households.
The UN's time to shine (Ambassador Danny Danon, Israel Hayom) We are prone to criticizing UN institutions, and justifiably so, given their hypocritical approach toward Israel. But in times like these, we must put our criticisms aside and focus on the world's preeminent international body's advantages.
Israeli Health Minister's Cure for COVID-19? The Messiah (Netta Ahituv, Haaretz+) “We are praying and hoping that the Messiah will arrive before Passover, the time of our redemption. I am sure that the Messiah will come and bring us out as [God] brought us out of Egypt. Soon we will go out in freedom and the Messiah will come and redeem us from all the troubles of the world.” This remark was made by Health Minister Yaakov Litzman last week, after Yaniv Kalif of the Hebrew-language news website Hamal asked him whether Israelis will be forced to remain under lockdown until the holiday, which begins April 8th. Litzman’s ignorant answer was not met with uproar.
A crisis cannot be managed under threat (Dr. Shuki Friedman, Israel Hayom) The specter of facing an investigative committee could force our leaders to make biased decisions that will cost lives. Demanding a probe while the corona crisis rages does more harm than good.
The corona challenge and the crime threat: How the Arab society is coping with crisis (Michael Milstein, Maariv) “Ilzam beitak,” stay in your home, has been the slogan that has been burned into the media of Israeli Arabs in recent days. This has led to an improvement in responsiveness, which, at the outbreak of the crisis, was very limited in the Arab sector…The Corona campaign, which also highlights the contribution of the Arab public, as embodied in the activities of Arab citizens on medical teams throughout the country, reflects the maturity of Arab society in Israel, and its actual integration in many aspects of the country. The successful model should also be copied in the fight against other challenges facing Arab society in Israel, which have resulted in many more fallen than the Corona - most notably the crime and violence.  During the Corona crisis, three Arab-Israeli civilians were murdered in criminal incidents. Fourteen were murdered since the beginning of the year, compared to 93 in all of 2019 - which was the deadliest ever in this context. Along with moves required by the state, in particular a significant expansion of enforcement and policing in Arab society and increased resources in the fields of welfare and youth, it is recommended to promote publicity campaigns starring prominent public opinion shapers in Arab society, for example, who will deal with the subject of violence against women and between youth, and even encourage cooperation with the police. As part of the fight against the Corona virus, Arab citizens have shown their central weight in critical actions in the country and their successful integration. If they are also integrated into the policing and enforcement authorities, success can also be seen in the fight against the scourge of crime and violence that many in the Arab public regard as the most serious threat today. (The author is the head of the Palestinian Studies Forum at the Moshe Dayan Center at Tel-Aviv University and the coordinator of the fight against violence and crime in Arab society in Israel at the INSS Institute.)
The truth about digital tracking to fight coronavirus (Shalev Hulio, Yedioth/Ynet) It is important to appreciate that the historical information for each mobile subscription is already and routinely available to the cellular companies and only includes cellular locations and does not require any collection of information from the device itself.