United Torah Jewish lawmakers on Sunday criticized Health Minister Yuli Edelstein for ordering hospitals and health maintenance organizations to keep the vaccine for coronavirus on Shabbat.
In an article published in Yated Ne’eman, a close-to-the-party publication, Edelstein is credited with avoiding the situation raised by rabid leaders, causing “great pain to the public . “
Haredi is due to receive the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine in Jerusalem on Thursday
(Photo: Gil Yohanan)
According to the article, clinics offered vaccines administered by non-Jewish medical staff for the most part but in some places Jewish nurses were present to provide the pictures.
The religious leaders said there was no reason to oppose the observance of the Sabbath when the vaccination effort could take place during the week.
Transport Deputy Uri Maklev of United Torah Judaism said Edelstein promised that there would be no vaccination on Shabbat, but he has kept his word.
Police arrest an ultra-orthodox man at a protest against coronavirus health cuts in Jerusalem in October
(Photo: Shalom Shalev)
“This feels like they’re trying to win a competition. They’re not behaving professionally,” said Maklev from the Ministry of Health.
“The ultra-orthodox public has already lost faith in the leadership of the ministry,” he said.
“We saw their lack of transparency throughout the pandemic when they unnecessarily quarantined tens of thousands of people. How can their work be blessed when they attack Shabbat?”
Trash cans were set on fire at Haredi’s protest against coronavirus health concessions earlier this year in Jerusalem
(Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)
“If this is a matter of life and death, the ministry should expand the vaccination points and bring in more health professional teams to work longer hours during the week,” he said.