A 46-year-old man has drowned off the Keshatot beach in Ashdod. He is in moderate condition.MDA paramedics and responders provided him with first aid and transported him to Ashdod's Assuta hospital.

Minister of Health and member of the government's State Security Cabinet Yuli Edelstein has congratulated the government In its reaching of an agreement with the United Arab Emirates.However, he also expressed his concern that this signifies not merely a postponement but a cancellation of the government's plan to apply sovereignty to Judea and Samaria."I commend the Prime Minister for this important agreement between Israel and the UAE," he said, "and especially for the great efforts put into cooperation between the two countries toward developing a vaccine for the coronavirus."Nonetheless," he continued, "application of sovereignty in Judea, Samaria, and the Jordan Valley is no less important to the Israeli people. We must not let normalization [with the UAE] override the application of Israeli law [in those areas]. We promised 1.3 million Likud voters that there would be sovereignty, and we have to abide by our promise," he insisted.

Prime Minister Netanyahu rejected claims Thursday that the provision in the new UAE-Israel peace deal requiring Israel to suspend its sovereignty plan marked the end of his bid to extend Israeli law over parts of Judea and Samaria.

Former Israeli ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon has commended the government In its reaching of an accord with the UAE."I congratulate the Prime Minister In leading us toward this important agreement," Danon said. "During my tenure as Israel's ambassador to the UN, I visited the UAE and cooperated with them In the issue of preventing Iran from obtaining atomic weapons."All the same," he added, "we must not let this impact our plans to apply sovereignty [to Judea and Samaria], which is something we should be doing now - immediately."

A 25-year-old man is in serious condition after falling from a height in Eilat.MDA paramedics and responders treated him at the scene of the incident and transported him to Yoseftal hospital.

US Secretary of State "hopes brave step will be first in series of agreements that end 72 years of hostilities."

Commenting In today's peace accords between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, a statement issued by the government of Bahrain noted that: "We commend the decision to cease [moves toward] annexation, and the steps taken toward peace in the Middle East."

MK Nir Barkat (Likud) has praised today's peace accord signed between Israel and the UAE, while stressing that sovereignty must remain In the political agenda."I congratulate Prime Minister Netanyahu In this historic achievement," he said, "one that demonstrates that a policy of political determination and opposition to concessions and withdrawals Inly brings peace closer. We will not give up In the application of sovereignty, and now more than ever we need to expand construction in Judea and Samaria, in order to convey a clear message to the entire world that we will continue to stand up for our historic right to the land," Barkat said.