Prime minister fumes that Netanyahu playing games with public health to score points by advancing legislative maneuver moments after announcement of exposure to Omicron variant
People walk in downtown Jerusalem on January 17, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
1. Lockdown and not out: Israeli officials appear set to extend a nationwide lockdown by a week, or maybe two, beyond its current January 21 expiration date.
Visiting a vaccination center on Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the extension as “short,” but would only say it won’t be more than two weeks.
Channel 13 reports that Netanyahu supports extending the lockdown by at least 10 days, covering two weekends.
“The lockdown will be extended, the question is by how long,” reads a top headline in Israel Hayom.
The paper reports that Netanyahu and the Health Ministry want a two-week lockdown, but with Blue and White opposed, are managing expectations.