Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday acknowledged the sharing of coronavirus vaccines with several friendly countries that have favored Israel in the past.
Speaking to reporters, Netanyahu said Israel has “more than enough” vaccines for its own population, and had personally decided what it called a symbolic number of doses to reward give to friends.
“It was done as a result of what we have already received, through many notifications in a number of areas that I will not detail here,” Netanyahu said. “I think it’s really buying good intentions.”
Netanyahu did not analyze. But public broadcaster Israel Kan said about 100,000 Moderna vaccines are being sent to about 15 allies. They include countries that have recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, including Guatemala and Honduras, as well as several countries in Africa that have strong or strong ties to Israel.
Netanyahu’s comments came at a time when Israel is complaining about international criticism for not doing more to share the vast collection of vaccines with the Palestinians.
Under the terms of Oslo Accords, however, the Palestinian Authority is responsible for the health care of its own population and has reiterated that it receives its own vaccines through the DA scheme.
Israel has shared 2,000 doses of vaccines with the Palestinian Authority to deploy West Bank medical staff. Furthermore, it is difficult for Palestinians to get their own vaccines.
This has drawn attention to the global difference in vaccination uptake between rich and poor countries.
DA officials and human rights groups have said Israel is a proprietary power and is responsible for vaccinating the Palestinians. Israel insists there is no such obligation in covering for the failure of the Palestinian Authority.