On the way to extending the tight closure: Cabinet ministers are expected to vote tonight (Tuesday) on the continuation of the tight closure that was supposed to end after two weeks on Thursday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has proposed extending the closure until Sunday, January 31. At the same time, the government will decide whether to close Ben-Gurion Airport, with the exception of essential flights.
Interior Minister and Shas chairman Aryeh Deri said he intended to support the proposal: “I supported the closure but abstained from the previous vote because of the closure of synagogues. Today, in light of the great urgency, I waive the protest. Minister Avitan and I will vote in favor of the rabbis’ directive in favor of the closure.”
Deri added: “This is blasphemy, what the ultra-Orthodox public is doing to us. Not because of us, the closure, it is because of the mutation that is spreading throughout the country.”
The tight closure will be extended
(Photo: Moti Kimhi)
Tourism Minister Orit Farkash HaCohen proposed allowing the economy to be opened as early as the morning of the closure. Prime Minister Netanyahu objected and insisted that the closure end on Sunday at midnight, “so that we can take advantage of another day for the vaccination campaign.” However, some of the ministers claimed that there was no connection between the two.
During his remarks, Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz proposed enacting the “Immunization Obligation Law.” Agriculture Minister Alon Schuster said: “We must act with an iron fist against lawbreakers. We are not at the end of the event, but facing months of death. There must be increased enforcement and tougher sanctions. There is an unbearable gap between cities and neighborhoods with low vaccination concentrations, high morbidity and low enforcement. “The information and logistical effort needs to be stepped up.”
Homeland Security Minister Amir Ohana protested the criticism leveled at some ministers regarding the lack of proper enforcement. “I understand that you are trying to produce a biased image that came from the Ministry of Justice, that it is just reports,” Ohana said. In January, 79% of enforcement was in red and orange cities. ”
The new commissioner, Major General Kobi Shabtai, said in his first appearance at the cabinet meeting: “The closure with all the restrictions is carried out with sensitivity and determination. No one wants to poke the State of Israel. Regarding enforcement – an event like yesterday (multi-participant wedding in Bnei Brak. AA) is outrageous, to see a rebellious group called Stripe. In these places, where we know, we act with determination. “
Prime Minister Netanyahu responded: “You are talking here about enforcement. I am talking to leaders of countries who say ‘nothing helps’, no night closure, no differential, no matter all the colors of the traffic light. Everyone says nothing helped and they say it from experience. Enforcement has not helped, there are always different groups in the population that are less conservative in democracies.
“What the commissioner said here is important: that the police here enforce more than anywhere else. In the United States, your eyes see, there are police there and even there it does not help. The Israel Police is making a great effort together with the staffs of the Minister of Internal Security and the incoming commissioner. Enforcement should be talked about fairly and in a true international comparison. Any other statement is misleading. In Europe, we are talking about a closure until April and we are talking about a closure for another 10 days. ”
Absorption Minister Pnina Temano Sheta asked the prime minister: “So we will allow a rampage?”
Commissioner Saturn and Minister Ohana
(Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)
Minister Farkash HaCohen made it difficult for Netanyahu to increase the fines that the Blue and White Party wanted to promote:
Netanyahu responded: “I did not stop. If you have a majority in the Knesset – pass it. There is a difference between the government and the Knesset.”
Farkash HaCohen: “I understand that the Speaker of the Knesset is not promoting, but I welcome things. We need to provide a linguistic solution to the morbidity between areas in the exit plans. ”
Prime Minister Netanyahu Said earlier in the hearing that the existing closure must be extended immediately. “Many countries in Europe are extending the closure until March, and even until April. That’s what we need to decide today. It may not be popular and uncomfortable during the election period, but that’s what we need to decide today and I expect everyone to support it. A last effort is needed here. Of all of us to get out of the corona and save lives. ”
National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat reinforced Netanyahu’s remarks and said at the hearing that “the morbidity is high and widespread due to the mutations. Stands at 40% -30% of the total infected – and will remain the most dominant in the coming weeks.
Mass wedding in Elad
(Photo: Police Spokeswoman )
Defense Minister Bnei Gantz said at the hearing that he demands increased enforcement in the ultra-Orthodox sector and increased police presence and fines, along with restricting entry and exit from the country. “I demand enforcement in places that violate the closure,” Ganz said. “There is no proper discipline and conduct. This is human life. We need to look at the issue of leaving the quarantine and preparing for the green mark. If there is enforcement and discipline – we can end the quarantine within 9-7 days.”
Corona projector Prof. Nachman Ash said that the coefficient of infection was declining, and that the effect of the closure would be felt in the coming days – and recommended extending the closure by two weeks, until February 4. “The public is tired, no doubt,” Ash said. “The response will be lower, but the data do not allow otherwise.”
Mandelblit and Netanyahu
(Photo: Moti Kimhi, Yoav Dodkevich)
Mandelblit added: “I see reports and statements, possibly by mistake, of forcing an inspection at Ben Gurion Airport and an inspection in the countries of origin. There is a language of error: the issue that came up for the first time last week is conducting tests of 72 hours before boarding a plane. It never came up as a request from any source from the Department of Transportation or Health.
“Even today, within the State of Israel, there is no ability to force an investigation. There is incitement following what was said against me, that I have blood on my hands. There were never things, they did not bring me a request before boarding the plane. I expect the head of the National Security Council to confirm these things. This is dramatic and possible, but it came up for the first time last week. “Minister Deri confirmed Mandelblit’s remarks.
Netanyahu commented: “We could not understand otherwise.”
Mandelblit: “This is not true”.
Netanyahu: “It is true that we asked, as you said, but for a whole year it was said that the citizens of Israel must be allowed to return to Israel. It was said many times. We made a logical connection.”
Mandelblit: “Obviously there is a right for an Israeli citizen to return to Israel. The new idea was the condition of entry into the country. I do not require them to pass tests. Just as teachers cannot be required to be tested but they can be legislated that they will not be able to teach. We do it in professional football.
Ganz: “Seeks to stop this saga.”
Netanyahu: “There may have been people here who made a wrong logical connection. I welcome there is understanding and agreement.”
Regev: “I also want a test in the country.”
Mandelblit: “There was a mistake in good faith. There is a difference between what happens in Israel and what happens 72 hours before abroad.”
Netanyahu concluded: Because of the contradiction that a person should not be required to perform a corona examination on the one hand and on the other hand it was stated that it is not possible to prohibit the entry of an Israeli resident returning home, a misunderstanding arose. It is good that the issue has been clarified and now we must move on and deal with it immediately. “
The tightened closure was due to end on Thursday this week, but morbidity figures led to its extension. The overall infection coefficient dropped to 1.05, but signs of improvement in the data are still not noticeable. At the same time, a record of more than 10,000 new patients was recorded in one day yesterday, and hospitals are reporting congestion due to the high number of patients.