But the country's recent spike in cases has ignited debate about the future of the vaccination programme and the ongoing pandemic.

It had virtually returned to normal life by this spring, cases stayed low and it looked like vaccination had more or less quashed Covid.

From July, though, cases started to rise again.

Since Israel surged ahead in immunising its population last winter, the rest of the vaccinated world has turned to it to understand what might be in store in the coming weeks and months.

The country's own health leaders will be keeping a watchful eye on cases after schools reopened on 1 September, while next week, Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, will see groups gathering.

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