Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Nov. 13 the signing of an agreement with US company Pfizer over the purchase of coronavirus vaccines. Speaking at a joint press conference with Health Minister Yuli Edelstein, Netanyahu said, “This is a great day for the State of Israel, a great day on the road to victory over the coronavirus. At the moment we are signing the agreement with Pfizer. The ambition is that the supply will start in January and the supply will increase. It depends on the approval of the US and Israeli health authorities. Our national mission is to enable vaccination of every person in Israel."

Netanyahu also said that Israel has agreements with other "promising companies" and is working on more. 

Netanyahu wrote on Twitter, "At these moments, we are signing the agreement with Pfizer to receive 8 million doses of vaccine for 4 million Israeli citizens."

Reportedly, Israel will pay 120 million Israeli shekels ($35 million) in advance next week. The agreement does not include a full commitment by Pfizer to supply the vaccines to Israel, but rather the intention to do so "according to the circumstances." Israeli news site Ynet reported that in case the vaccine is not supplied, the cash advance will be returned.