The announcement comes less than a week after Israel said it would vaccinate 100,000 workers in the West Bank.
Israel says it is delaying until more information is issued to provide COVID vaccines to Palestinians working domestically and in their settlements on the West Bank.
COGAT, the Israeli military arm responsible for civil affairs in Palestinian territories, had confirmed last week that the COVID vaccination campaign was “approved by the political echelon”.
The news was confirmed by the Palestinian Authority which said it had reached an agreement with Israel that would see the country vaccinate 100,000 Palestinian workers.
But COGAT on Friday announced a delay due to “administrative delays,” saying a fresh start to the campaign would be confirmed at a later date.
The inclusion campaign was due to begin on Sunday at the West Bank’s routes into Israel and at Israeli business zones.
Such complaints could have criticized Israel for not sharing large quantities of its COVID vaccine stocks with Palestinians living under Israeli control in the West Bank and those in it. the Gaza Strip – even when Israel succeeded in launching one of the world ‘s fastest vaccine launches.
Israel had also announced plans to share additional vaccines with distant friends in Africa, Europe and Latin America, but the decision was frozen with legal issues.
On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Danish and Austrian leaders that the three countries would come together in the fight against COVID-19 with investment in vaccine research and distribution.
Around 100,000 Palestinian workers from the West Bank work in Israel. The PA had received enough doses for just 6,000 of its people – meaning most of the five million Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip would remain unvaccinated.
The West Bank was placed under new restrictive measures last week to prevent an increase in disease.