The heavy guns used to combat the spread of the coronavirus are now silent in the face of one million unemployed, giving the virus known as bureaucracy the chance to claim more lives
Israel has shown that when there is a will, there is always a way.
Faced with the task of flattening the curve of infections by the coronavirus, the state enlisted its heaviest guns – the National Security Council, the Mossad, the Shin Bet, and the IDF – truly the best of the men, though none of the women.
The health system did not have to stand alone in the fight against the virus, and for the first time in years, it was given the aid of the state’s truly important people – those in charge of security.
It seems that from the moment the word ‘emergency’ was uttered, barriers came down and the tools for fighting a war were diverted to fighting the plague pooling all the government resources in order to save lives.
The creative solutions provided by the health system washed over the country like fresh rain over scorched earth.
This was the medical teams hardest, yet finest hour as they battled with the pandemic which arrived without warning, and thanks to the relentless, intensive, and unprecedented efforts of the country’s greatest asset, the holy grail born out of 72 years of experience: The security system – they prevailed.
It was no small feat, despite the politicians’ tendency to flaunt as sons buried their parents, but still a feat that could inspire confidence in the government.
But when there is no will, Israel finds no way. So much so that it seems that people would be better off sick with the coronavirus, then be unemployed.
Instead of breathing fresh wind into the country’s sails, which have been spread by a joint effort of every community in the country, to steer the ship to safe harbor, keep the crew united and ready for the next task – Israel’s struggling leadership decided to revert to its regular way of doing business as if the pandemic and the challenges it has brought, were over.
The country’s finest had defeated the pandemic, now they could be thanked and sent home.
The coronavirus’ economic damages are a socio-economic plague, the results of which will reverberate for months to come.
The country that had known when to reach deep into its pockets, summon its best and brightest, fly ventilators from across the sea, make nice with hostile powers swallowing its pride in order to get badly needed medical supplies, bend international conventions, and cut corners to save lives – must continue the same course of action to meet the next challenge.
Approximately 400 thousand out of the total one million unemployed will not return to their previous jobs, according to a Finance Ministry projection, though how many businesses will declare bankruptcy they cannot say, nor could they calculate the cost of depression and illness and even mortality that would be the result of the untreated economic disease.
The bureaucracy over the coming months could be as deadly as the virus itself, one that even the finest doctors would not be able to cure.
As reported by Ynetnews