Israel to mull another lockdown extension amid row over higher fines
Ministers set to convene on Thursday in an effort to extend closure by another week; but if no agreement is reached on the bill to double fines virus violators, majority of whom from Haredi sector, lockdown will end Sunday
Itamar Eichner, Nina Fuchs |
Published: 01.27.21 , 13:53
Israel s government said Wednesday it will discuss another extension to the current lockdown amid a row over fines for coronavirus violations, which are set to affect the ultra-Orthodox sector that appears to flout the restrictions.
Health experts warned the lockdown must be extended by an additional week over high coronavirus infection rates and hospitalizations, which appear to stem from the far more contagious UK variant of COVID-19.
Israel must stay in lockdown for extra week, infectious disease expert warns
Prof. Galia Rahav says barring miracle drop in infection rates, extension is crucial to preventing possible fourth closure, believes Israel will begin inoculating children as soon as Pfizer publishes findings on vaccine efficacy for under-16s
Ynet |
Published: 01.26.21 , 14:38
One of Israel s leading infectious disease experts warned Tuesday that the country s coronavirus morbidity levels mean it cannot end the current lockdown on Jan. 31 as planned, and that it must be extended by an extra week. Both infection and death rates are still high and I am unable to see how we are going to end the lockdown, said Prof. Galia Rahav, head of the Infectious Disease Unit and Laboratories at Sheba Medical Center, Israel s largest hospital.
Police operate to enforce lockdown in Bnei Brak, January 21, 2020 (Israel Police)
Ultra-Orthodox politicians on Friday raged at police after major clashes broke out overnight in Bnei Brak between cops and rioters opposed to lockdown rules, with police in turn saying that officers were “brutally attacked.”
The skirmishes, which began Thursday night and continued into the predawn hours of Friday morning, came after a mob in the predominantly Haredi city injured a police officer on patrol.
At least six people were arrested for disturbing public order and police said seven officers were injured.
The rioting was condemned by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who vowed to act with a “heavy hand” against those who violated lockdown rules and assaulted police, but his ultra-Orthodox political allies lashed out at police over the rioting.
336 shares
Maya Segev describes being mobbed by Haredi extremists in Bnei Brak on January 22, 2021. (Screen capture/Israel Police)
A police officer who was lightly injured by an ultra-Orthodox mob in Bnei Brak on Thursday said that while the incident unfolded she “feared for [her] life.”
“There were five minutes where we feared for our lives we saw the cruelty in their eyes,” Maya Segev said in a video statement released by police on Friday. “We would not have gotten out of there alive if forces hadn’t come to rescue us.”
She and one other officer were traveling in an unmarked car when they were identified as police by the mob.