Israeli Minister Resigns To Protest Expected Virus Lockdown

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FILE - In this Feb. 23, 2020 file photo, Israeli Health Minister Yaakov Litzman arrives for a situation assessment meeting regarding the Coronavirus, in Tel Aviv, Israel. Housing Minister Yaakov Litzman, who served as health minister during the initial outbreak of the virus, resigned Sunday, Sept 13, 2020, in protest over the government’s plan to impose a nationwide lockdown this week ahead of the Jewish New Year due to rising coronavirus cases. (Jack Guez/Pool via AP, File)

JERUSALEM (AP) — A prominent Israeli minister resigned on Sunday in protest over an expected government decision to impose a nationwide lockdown this week ahead of the Jewish New Year due to rising coronavirus cases.

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Housing Minister Yaakov Litzman, who served as health minister during the initial outbreak of the virus in Israel, criticized the anticipated lockdown measure as extreme and said it would cause undue suffering to the public.

Litzman, who heads an influential ultra-Orthodox faction in the coalition government, expressed particular ire toward restrictions that will limit observant Jews from attending communal prayers at synagogues during the upcoming holidays.

“The decision to impose a full lockdown over the holidays was planned in advance out of a lack of appreciation to the Jewish holidays,” he said in his resignation letter. “My heart is with the hundreds of thousands of Jews who come to synagogue once a year and won’t this year because of the lockdown.”

Israel earned praise earlier this year for its initial handling of the coronavirus domestically, moving quickly to seal the country’s borders and appearing to bring the outbreak under control. It has since been criticized for opening businesses and schools too quickly and allowing the virus to spread once again.

With the country reporting record levels of new coronavirus cases each day, the government is expected to vote Sunday in favor of another nationwide lockdown to curb the outbreak.

Israel has had more than 150,000 confirmed cases of virus and more than 1,100 deaths. Given its population of 9 million, the country now has one of the world’s worst outbreaks.

Litzman himself contracted the virus earlier this year.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced a national furor over his handling of the pandemic. Weekly protests demanding his resignation over corruption charges have now grown to include those demanding he resign over his handling of the coronavirus outbreak.

Perhaps more damaging politically is the anger boiling among ultra-Orthodox Jews, who have been among Netanyahu’s strongest supporters. Their leaders have used their political weight thus far to curb sweeping restrictions against their lifestyle of group study and prayer.

Infection rates in ultra-Orthodox communities have been among the highest in the country. The ultra-Orthodox tend to live in poor, crowded neighborhoods where the virus can quickly spread. Synagogues, the centerpiece of social life, bring men together to pray and socialize in small spaces.

Last week, Netanyahu announced overnight curfews on some 40 cities and towns hit hardest by the coronavirus, including several with large ultra-Orthodox populations, but backed away from reported recommendations for full lockdowns after an uproar by politically powerful religious politicians.

Israelis typically hold large family gatherings and pack synagogues during the important fast of Yom Kippur, which comes days after the Jewish New Year.

At the start of his weekly Cabinet meeting, Netanyahu expressed regret over Litzman’s resignation, though he said he respected it. He said severe measures were now needed after health officials “raised a red flag.”


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17 Comments
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Hello!!!!
Hello!!!!
3 years ago

Mr archly you are brainless like the rest of them
Israel is still dealing with this virus because of mask, social distances, and lockdown
The whole world is done with the virus but Israel that had crazy lockdowns and tracing still has it
Now let’s think oh is it because they are slowing the spread a little too much?

Hello!!!!
Hello!!!!
3 years ago

No it’s not a Jewish state and yes it is the only one with consistency in its corona situation
And archy you are too afraid to say no mask period
Let’s get this straight the majority of the people need to get this virus in order for it to go away so all precautions just prolong the virus (flatten the curve)

Hello!!!
Hello!!!
3 years ago

There isn’t a new surge anywhere, it’s people who didn’t yet get it getting it now
That’s all

Term limits proponent
Term limits proponent
3 years ago

Exactly. Those that have a compromised immune system should stay home and daven beyechidus. Don’t make life difficult for those that are healthy. Fargin yenim. Jealousy will get you nowhere in life.

Nachum
Nachum
3 years ago

This individual, Litzman, should be prosecuted for interfering with the extradition of a pedophile, to Australia. He held up the proceedings for years, with his false claims pertaining to the mental health of the defendant. All of Litzman’s claims have been debunked.

Dump people are not smart
Dump people are not smart
3 years ago

Maybe if folks would wear masks this would not be an issue. In hospitals where nurses and doctors were working in close contact with very sick COVID patients, many of them did not get the virus. This shut down will happen here as well if we don’t get the situation under control. The positivity rates are increasing (I don’t know what the situation will be like in a week or a month or two, all I know that if we take some precautions we can almost certainly avoid any major breakout. Maybe those of you who think you are disease experts are correct and immunity is achieved and it won’t happen again. Hope you like gambling). I know, I know, I have seen it here a million times, you just can’t lock people up. Totally get that, so just wear the darn masks at least. Stop, or significantly minimize kiddashim and minimize the crowds at simchas. Or don’t, and then whine about evil Fauchi, DeBlasio, and Coumo.

KShomron
KShomron
3 years ago

ברוך שפטרנו.
“My heart is with the thousands of Jews who attend shul once a year”. Really????? He could care less about them. All of sudden he’s worried about the non-religious sector?
When he closed the Shuls last Pesach it is was OK. But now that he’s not the Minister it’s a different story?
Then of course there were the times when he didn’t keep the rules of his own Ministry.
The other party members of the Aguda are all upset about this resignation. It’s not because of any principle, unless you consider money a principle.

E. Green
E. Green
3 years ago

And my heart is with the overtaxed, overburdened health care workers who cant go to Shule or eat with their parents because they have to work or cant risk spreading Covid to others. If Litzman really cared about those who Yidded come to shule for Neila or Kol Nidrei , why not organize many small minyanim to welcome those who dont daven all year.? Why isnt he organizing events to bring Yiddishkeit to those same Kol Nidriei Jews in an Covid responsible manner? , Why doesnt he use his influence to get more Chariedim to wear masks, practice true social distancing and limit group activities etc.? What a Kiddish Hashem these things would bring!!

Avrom who nearly died from covid
Avrom who nearly died from covid
3 years ago

Like all frummer – daving with minyan is more important than Jewish lives. No one can argue if we took more precautions and kept minyanim down to 50 people with mandatory masks and social distancing, or if in an “outbreak” close the shuls. We would save at least few lives. Running into a store for 5 minutes with a mask is one thing, sitting in shul for hours is another thing. Do we really care about the next guy or older person.
Question – Does anyone know how many minyonim are worth one Jewish life?

GilBeersheva
GilBeersheva
3 years ago

To Hello!! Troll who hates the ONLY JEWISH STATE IN 1,930 YEARS- where do you get your Fake News? Q-anon? Fox? DerSturmer? Many countries are fighting the new surge in Deadly Covid. Google it, before you make such dumb posts. Israel needs a lockdown or faces a trump-level Covid crisis.

power
power
3 years ago

We don’t know what the heck is going on why certain countries have it worse than others . Let’s just be darn careful and wear masks and pray for Moshiach and that Ha-shem destroys this magayfa and all magayfos