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Tighter Restrictions In Israel's Coronavirus Lockdown Kick In

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Less than week after Israel began its second COVID -19 lockdown, the coronavirus cabinet decided to tighten restrictions even further. 

The push for a more rigid lockdown came just after word of nearly 7,000 cases and 32 deaths in a 24-hour period. 

“The situation is bad; we’re seeing a steep increase in morbidity rates.  We need to reach decisions, hard decisions,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a break in the meeting.

“As prime minister, I’m obligated to protect your lives, and everyone must understand that this is a life-threatening situation.  That’s why there no other choice.  We’re going to make hard decisions and save lives – with your cooperation,” Netanyahu added.  

Following hours of heated debate, Netanyahu pushed through the measures despite opposition from the Finance Ministry and others, including the government-appointed coronavirus commissioner, Ronni Gamzu.

"You cannot put your population locked down the entire year," Gamzu said in an interview. "It's hard work, still (an) ongoing fight. Do not declare victory. Do not declare failure. Go ahead and still fight."

 Netanyahu addressed the nation on Thursday evening.

"This is a national emergency.  We are in the midst of a prolonged war - the coronavirus war.  This is a war for the economy, for the health and again - this is a war for life," he said.

"Only if we stand together, only if we fight together, only if we adhere to the rules together – only then will we defeat the pandemic, and we will defeat it. This is what we did in all of Israel's wars and this is what we did in the first wave of the coronavirus," he added.

Israel has had more than 217,000 cases since the start of the pandemic, with more than 700 now in serious condition, and more than 1,400 deaths. 

The increased restrictions began Friday afternoon and are scheduled to last at least until the end of the holidays, in about two weeks.  Netanyahu says they may lessen restrictions after that if the numbers decrease.

The lockdown includes synagogues except for limited prayers on Yom Kippur; reducing protestors and allowing demonstrations within a kilometer of one’s house; closing nonessential businesses; reducing public transport; and allowing citizens to gather with only their nuclear families.

The closure will cost an estimated $10 billion if it lasts three weeks.  

"At this rate of infection, if we do not do this, there will be no alternative to a prolonged tight lockdown; therefore, it is preferable to do it over the holiday period in which there are fewer working days and most of the economy is on vacation anyway," Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu and Alternate Prime Minister and Defense Minister Benny Gantz agreed on the full lockdown.

Netanyahu said as Israel faces a New Year, he expected there would be a message of hope but it would require everyone to show “personal responsibility” including “wearing masks, maintaining distance and avoiding gatherings.”

 

 

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About The Author

Julie Stahl
Julie
Stahl

Julie Stahl is a correspondent for CBN News in the Middle East. A Hebrew speaker, she has been covering news in Israel fulltime for more than 20 years. Julie’s life as a journalist has been intertwined with CBN – first as a graduate student in Journalism; then as a journalist with Middle East Television (METV) when it was owned by CBN from 1989-91; and now with the Middle East Bureau of CBN News in Jerusalem since 2009. As a correspondent for CBN News, Julie has covered Israel’s wars with Gaza, rocket attacks on Israeli communities, stories on the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria and