Israel PM on vaccination 'badge', prisoner swap

Israel has unveiled a plan to allow people who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus to attend cultural events, fly abroad and go to health clubs and restaurants.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the plan during a visit to a gym in the city of Petah Tikva on Saturday.

He explained that those who had been vaccinated would be able in the coming days to download a "green badge" proving they had received a vaccine.

The badge would help to open up the country "gradually", he added.

Netanyahu also reacted to reports that Israel paid Russia for hundreds of thousands of vaccines for Syria as part of a prisoner swap.

"Not one Israeli vaccine" had been sent to the Syrians, the prime minister insisted.

But he did not comment on whether Israel had bought Russian vaccines and instead said Moscow had asked to keep details of the Russia-mediated swap secret.

A young Israeli woman who crossed the border into Syria was exchanged after Israel returned to Syria two shepherds who crossed into Israeli territory in recent weeks.

According to Israeli media reports, the 25-year-old woman was sent by Syria to Russia, where an Israeli plane was dispatched to retrieve her.

(Image Credit: AP)