People wearing costumes in Jerusalem on February 24, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
1. Party poopers: Israel is preparing Thursday to head back under curfew over fears that Purim holiday celebrations could turn into a superspreader event, but the horse may have already left the barn.
Several news outlets report on street parties in Tel Aviv the evening before, including footage showing large crowds of revelers. “Hundreds of youths were seen at street parties in several places including Kerem Hateimanim, the Carmel Market and Dizengoff Square, dancing and cavorting without masks or any adherence to social distance guidelines,” an outraged Channel 12 news reports.
The channel quotes the owner of a bar saying he did nothing wrong. “We sold alcohol as takeout, which is allowed. The police came and asked us to close everything, claiming that we were responsible for the crowd.”