The Israeli lockdown extended to Sunday

In the early hours of this morning, after a heated debate and exchange between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz, the government decided to extend the complete closure in Israel until Sunday morning. It was also agreed that the lifting of restrictions would be in accordance with the proposal of the Ministry of Health. The restrictions to be lifted will be on hairdressers, beauticians, lawyers, accountants, and other personal transactions. Businesses that are not open to the public will also be permitted to open. Restrictions on movement will be removed, as will the ban on being in other people’s homes. Parks, nature reserves and beaches will be opened. Takeaway meals from restaurants will be allowed, and there will be a controlled reopening of kindergartens – the last relaxation will not take effect on Sunday, but after consultation with the Ministry of Education. Vacation rentals will also be permitted for single families. Restrictions on retail stores in general, other than grocery stores and supermarkets, will still apply. The decision comes after the death toll in Israel from the Covid-19 virus exceeded 5,000, and amid a slowdown in the country’s vaccination program, which was the fastest in the world. To Netanyahu’s anger, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit announced an initial majority vote in favor of a motion by Health Minister Yuli Edelstein to extend the lockdown because the amendment to the Basic Law: The government that facilitated the current coalition states that cabinet votes must be unanimous between the coalitions. Netanyahu accused Gantz of wanting to spread the Coronavirus with the greatest possible electoral considerations. Gantz argued that the lockdown was no longer effective, and that extending it would do more harm than good. It occurs in favor of differential restrictions in regions with high infection rates. Earlier in the evening session, the government approved regulations imposing higher fines for breaching lockdown restrictions, after the measure was approved in principle by the Knesset. Posted by Globes, Israel business news – en.globes.co.il – February 5, 2021 © Copyright Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2021