THE STATE of ISRAEL (Name of Registrant)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM 18-K/A For Foreign Governments and Political Subdivisions Thereof AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL (Name of Registrant) Date of end of last fiscal year: December 31, 2020 SECURITIES REGISTERED* (As of the close of the fiscal year) AMOUNTS AS TO NAMES OF WHICH REGISTRATION EXCHANGES ON TITLE OF ISSUE IS EFFECTIVE WHICH REGISTERED N/A N/A N/A Names and address of persons authorized to receive notices and communications from the Securities and Exchange Commission Elinor Azani Head of Israel Economic Mission — Western Hemisphere Ministry of Finance of the State of Israel 800 Second Avenue, 17th Floor New York, New York 10017 Copies to: Colin Diamond, Esq. Ian Clark, Esq. White & Case LLP White & Case LLP 1221 Avenue of the Americas 5 Old Broad Street New York, New York 10020 London EC2N 1DW United States United Kingdom * The Registrant is filing this annual report on a voluntary basis. EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit Number Page Number A: None. B: None. C: (P) Copy of the State Budget for Fiscal Years 2018 – 2019 (in Hebrew)*. D: Current Description of the State of Israel.** D-1: Recent Developments in the State of Israel * Filed by paper filing under cover of Form SE on June 29, 2018, pursuant to Rules 306(c) and 311 of Regulation S-T. ** Previously filed on June 30, 2021. 1 SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this amendment to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Jerusalem, Israel on August 17, 2021. STATE OF ISRAEL By: /s/ Gil Cohen Name: Gil Cohen Title: Senior Deputy Accountant General, Ministry of Finance By: /s/ David Erdfarb Name: David Erdfarb Title: Head of Global Debt Capital Markets and FX Transactions, Ministry of Finance 2 Exhibit D-1 COVID-19 From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, in December 2019, Israel has implemented measures to reduce the virus’s spread and mitigate negative economic impacts. Actions taken include business closures, travel restrictions, mandatory face masks and social distancing guidelines. The Government began a mass vaccination program on December 19, 2020 with at-risk populations. The program expanded to all citizens aged 16 and older on February 4, 2021 and to all citizens aged 12 and older on June 2, 2021. As of the week ending August 7, 2021, over 58% of the Israeli population was fully vaccinated and Israel had recorded a total of 897,752 COVID-19 cases and 6,535 COVID-19-related deaths. In February 2020, Israel imposed a mandatory quarantine for returning travelers from areas particularly affected by COVID-19 such as China, Italy and certain other countries in East Asia and Europe. In March 2020, a mandatory quarantine period was put into effect for all returning travelers from abroad. Throughout March 2020, restrictions were placed on residents and work activities. Access to public spaces was reduced, private sector activity was restricted, and the public sector shifted to an emergency format, which limited the workforce to critical functions and essential employees. Additional measures were implemented, such as the requirement for individuals to remain within 100 meters of their homes unless required for essential services. The measures, taken to protect the health of Israelis also had an adverse effect on the economy, particularly on the business sector and unemployment. On April 19, 2020, the first lockdown ended; gradually over the following months the state began lifting some of its restrictions. From September 18 to October 18, 2020, as a result of a spike in COVID-19 cases, Israel entered its second nationwide lockdown. A third nationwide lockdown commenced on December 27, 2020, and was in place until February 7, 2021. Following the end of the third lockdown, the state began to re-open and to lift the remaining restrictions such as restrictions on businesses and social gatherings. After a period of low infection rates during April and May 2021 while lockdown restrictions continued to ease, the Delta variant entered Israel in June 2021. It began to spread rapidly among unimmunized children and adolescents and immunized adults. In June 2021, the Government reinstated guidance to wear face-masks indoors and altered contact tracing guidance to include recommendations for vaccinated individuals to undergo testing and, in certain cases quarantine, following exposure to COVID-19. The Green Pass program, which permitted fully vaccinated individuals and individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 entry into certain public places, was restarted several weeks after its cancellation. The Ministry of Health (“MoH”) updated its list of countries by COVID-19 risk. Travelers entering Israel from high-risk countries are required to quarantine, regardless of whether such travelers previously recovered from COVID-19 or are fully vaccinated. Amid a continued rise in COVID-19 cases, the Government on August 5, 2021 approved new restrictive measures, which include expanding vaccine and mask-wearing requirements for gatherings under the Green Pass program, a shift back to a work-from-home policy and additional travel restrictions. Some of the new restrictions took place on August 8, 2021, with others expected to be implemented later in August 2021. Ongoing tracking indicated that as the Delta variant spread, vaccinated individuals were becoming infected and, in some cases, experiencing severe symptoms. MoH analysis of national data indicated that the risk for breakthrough infection is related to the Delta variant and the time elapsed since receipt of the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. This was a critical finding as most of the Israeli at-risk population was vaccinated in early 2021 and were therefore at a greater risk of breakthrough infection than more recently vaccinated individuals. As COVID-19 infections continued to rise at a time when minimal COVID-19 restrictions were in place, it became necessary for the Government to enact policies to protect Israel’s at-risk populations. In July 2021, MoH recommended a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccination for severely immunocompromised individuals and elderly individuals in order to boost their immunity. MoH took this decision to protect Israel’s at-risk populations and to protect against overwhelming the healthcare system. MoH will continue to track the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines and breakthrough infections (after second and third doses) and will consider recommending a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for other at-risk groups. MoH will also continue to assess the impact of the third dose, including any adverse side effects, at both the local and national levels. D-1 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM 18-K For Foreign Governments and Political Subdivisions Thereof ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL (Name of Registrant) Date of end of last fiscal year: December 31, 2020 SECURITIES REGISTERED* (As of the close of the fiscal year) AMOUNTS AS TO NAMES OF WHICH REGISTRATION EXCHANGES ON TITLE OF ISSUE IS EFFECTIVE WHICH REGISTERED N/A N/A N/A Names and address of persons authorized to receive notices and communications from the Securities and Exchange Commission Elinor Azani Head of Israel Economic Mission — Western Hemisphere Ministry of Finance of the State of Israel 800 Second Avenue, 17th Floor New York, New York 10017 Copies to: Colin Diamond, Esq. Ian Clark, Esq. White & Case LLP White & Case LLP 1221 Avenue of the Americas 5 Old Broad Street New York, New York 10020 London EC2N 1DW United States United Kingdom * The Registrant is filing this annual report on a voluntary basis. THE STATE OF ISRAEL (THE “STATE”) 1. In respect of each issue of securities of the registrant registered, a brief statement as to: (a) The general effect of any material modifications, not previously reported, of the rights of the holders of such securities. No such modifications. (b) The title and the material provisions of any law, decree or administrative action, not previously reported, by reason of which the security is not being serviced in accordance with the terms thereof. No such provisions. (c) The circumstances of any other failure, not previously reported, to pay principal, interest, or any sinking fund or amortization installment. No such circumstances. 2. A statement as of the close of the last fiscal year of the registrant giving the total outstanding of: (a) Internal funded debt of the registrant. (Total to be stated in the currency of the registrant. If any internal funded debt is payable in a foreign currency it should not be included under this paragraph (a), but under paragraph (b) of this item). Reference is made to Table No. 37 of Exhibit D. (b) External funded debt of the registrant. (Totals to be stated in the respective currencies in which payable. No statement needs to be furnished as to intergovernmental debt). Reference is made to pages D-92 – D-100 of Exhibit D. 3. A statement giving the title, date of issue, date of maturity, interest rate and amount outstanding, together with the currency or currencies in which payable, of each issue of funded debt of the registrant outstanding as of the close of the last fiscal year of the registrant. Reference is made to pages D-92 – D-100 of Exhibit D. 4. (a) As to each issue of securities of the registrant which is registered, there should be furnished a break- down of the total amount outstanding, as shown in Item 3, into the following: (i) Total amount held by or for the account of the registrant. As of December 31, 2020, the registrant held none. (ii) Total estimated amount held by nationals of the registrant (or if registrant is other than a national government by the nationals of its national government); this estimate need be furnished only if it is practicable to do so.