The Prime Minister’s Office announced this evening (Thursday) that the transfer of vaccines to Corona purchased by Israel to foreign countries has been frozen. This follows the request of Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit for clarification on the matter.
The ombudsman stated: “Following requests from reporters, we have made it clear as follows: The Attorney General is examining the claim that vaccines were transferred to foreign countries without authority, following public inquiries he received. In addition, this morning, for the first time, a request was received from the head of the National Security Council for an opinion on the matter. In his application he updated that It has already been instructed to freeze any action on the issue. “
The Netanyahu bureau said that “following a preliminary petition that was raised, the ombudsman referred to the head of the National Security Council, Meir Ben Shabbat.Not a single vaccine was deducted from Israeli citizens, And the amount that was supposed to go to the countries is only symbolic and builds a good name for the State of Israel in the world. “
Earlier this week, the bureau announced that Israel would transfer a token amount of vaccines to several countries in the world and to the Palestinian Authority, noting that it was a “limited amount of unused vaccines” and had accumulated over the past month. Political sources claim that this is the case With a limited amount of vaccines in the amount of 45,000 doses. The sources added that direct inquiries had been received by the Prime Minister on the subject, some by the heads of those countries and some by the diplomatic representatives of the countries.
Benjamin Netanyahu and Avichai Mandelblit (Photo: Yonatan Zindel, Flash 90)Defense Minister Bnei Gantz, who earlier today demanded that the political-security cabinet urgently convene to discuss the issue and until then freeze all shipments, welcomed the decision and wrote on his Twitter account:
“Welcomes the decision to freeze the transfer of Israeli vaccines to other countries. Netanyahu’s move was made in an undemocratic manner, bypassing the procedures. If there is a reason to transfer vaccines to different countries at the expense of Israeli citizens – it will be decided only in the appropriate forums. “Making decisions in the dark raises concerns about harming foreign relations and national security.”
Gantz argued that “this is a significant political-security decision, and accordingly, it should be made in accordance with the procedures established by law. This is not the first time that significant security and policy decisions are made behind the relevant elements in the State of Israel. “And the rule of law. This pattern impairs our ability to run the country properly in the most sensitive areas we have developed.”