Without restraint, without considering the facts and consequences: Yisrael Beiteinu and its war on vaccines

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The national effort to vaccinate the Israeli population and leave the corona plague behind crosses sectors and parties, but one party insists on presenting the public with an alternative picture of reality. Time and time again, MKs from “Yisrael Beiteinu” have questioned the severity of the epidemic, and in recent days even the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. Sometimes they do so implicitly, and sometimes directly and blatantly.

“If you do not know what this vaccine does as head of public health services, it says Darshani. Do not get vaccinated,” said MK Eli Avidar of Yisrael Beiteinu today (Wednesday) to the head of public health services, Dr. Sharon Elrai-Price, during a discussion Stormy in the Constitution Committee on extending the state of emergency due to the corona.

Avidar further told her: “You said we do not know if the vaccine prevents the infection and it does not encourage the public to get vaccinated.”

Dr. Elrai-Price did not remain obligated, to which he replied: “I propose to stop with the populist statements to the public. I’m not trying to get people vaccinated without telling them the whole truth. We know that the vaccine is 95% effective, and we do not know if those who are vaccinated can still spread the virus. “

Photo: Knesset Channel

But as stated, a review of various statements by members of Yisrael Beiteinu recently reveals a worrying picture, according to which there are those who are supposedly interested in dissuading the public from receiving the vaccines.

Over the past month, MK Avidar has spoken out about the vaccines in an interview with 103FM radio station, during which he stated that he does not intend to be vaccinated. Should I get vaccinated? “, Avidar said in an interview.

He further claimed that the call to vaccinate the general public is “an attempt by the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Health to put the country into ‘hysteria'”.

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At the same time, MK Yulia Malinowski voiced her position on the issue of vaccines. About two weeks ago, she said in an interview with 103FM: “I feel that vaccines are used for political purposes. We all need to ask the question – if there were no elections and all that comes out of it, would we be in the vaccine story at the same point in time and in the same situation. The answer will probably be no. I do not like the hysteria. “

She added: “I do not care what happens in the world, I want to hear experts.” During the interview, Malinowski added that as a member of the Corona Commission, they do not have enough information on the subject of vaccines and noted: “I am in favor of vaccines.” Asked if she intends to get vaccinated, Malinowski replied: “I’m undecided but I think not.” This, however, was not her only reference to the subject, as we shall immediately mention.

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Last Monday, a 75-hour-old man died of a heart attack after taking the vaccine to Corona. The Ministry of Health said that an initial examination showed that there was probably no connection between his death and the receipt of the vaccine, but the director general, Prof. Hezi Levy, ordered the establishment of an investigation committee to investigate the case, which will be led by the Ministry of Health.

However, despite the fact that the Ministry of Health did not firmly state that it was the vaccine that led to the man’s death, MK Malinowski had already tweeted that day: “This is exactly what I warned him about.” Israel Beiteinu wrote: “Stop talking to the public arrogantly, even so, about 50% of the public is afraid of the vaccine, this case only increases the fears. That is exactly why I demanded a public and transparent hearing about the vaccines so that everyone could hear and decide whether they were vaccinated or not. “

In addition, last November, MK Yevgeny Soba from Yisrael Beiteinu wrote on Facebook things that also link the vaccination campaign to the election. In a post that received 18 likes and one share, MK Soba wrote: “We need a vaccine and not an election campaign.”

“Many experts are wary of their assessments of the benefits and disadvantages of the vaccine. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes many statements and runs to buy any vaccine that just goes on the market. This mass purchase, without the vaccine proving effective, is a huge waste of money.” Ahead of the election.

“Understand, I am in favor of the vaccine. But in favor of a vaccine that is safe to use, effective and has a great deal of public trust. Already now, in surveys, more than 30% of the Israeli public is not ready to receive the vaccine at all. “No one will take responsibility. The corona will be to blame for everything.”

And what about the party’s chairman, MK Avigdor Lieberman? He was vaccinated today and updated on Twitter: “Vaccines are a personal choice of each and every person and not a political tool. Today I was also vaccinated.” At the same time, on December 17, he tweeted that “there is no party or factional discipline regarding vaccines.”

“Every person, depending on his age, state of health and consultation with his doctors, will carefully consider how to act,” he said. He added: “As I said in a videotaped interview, I intend to get vaccinated but I do not intend to preach morality on the subject to anyone.”

But Lieberman’s seemingly moderate remarks come a few months after he attacked the government’s decision to impose a closure on 40 red cities. During a meeting of the Yisrael Beiteinu faction, which took place a day later, on September 7, Lieberman called on the public to “conduct themselves in accordance with common sense and not in accordance with government directives.”

Yisrael Beiteinu responded: “The faction members called for discretion in order to maintain public health, due to political decisions resulting from the blackmail of the ultra-Orthodox parties. We need transparency in decisions in order to restore public confidence.

“Vaccines are a personal choice of each and every person and not a political tool. MK Lieberman was vaccinated today. Regarding the management of the Corona crisis, the next government will have to set up a state commission of inquiry. “Everything that has happened around the hotels and Ben Gurion Airport in the last 10 days explains most of all the lack of professionalism, lack of coordination, and the inability of the government to deal with the challenges facing the State of Israel today.”

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