After detailed new guidelines published, one minister writes to others that Health Ministry ‘making a mockery of cabinet’; another wonders ‘why we need a cabinet meeting’ at all
Cabinet ministers were incensed Saturday by the announcement of detailed new public guidelines and eased restrictions prior to the cabinet voting on them or even being properly informed about them, according to several reports.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his intention to remove of some of the limitations put in place amid the coronavirus pandemic, alongside the directors of the health and finance ministries.
But, as he has done on several previous occasions throughout the crisis, Netanyahu made the announcement before ministers were asked to vote on them and approve them.
A vote was to happen overnight, but even after the press conference was over, Channel 12 reported, ministers were told that no time had yet been set out for their deliberations. The meeting reportedly eventually began at around 1:30 a.m. Sunday.
The Health Ministry appeared to particularly anger cabinet members by releasing a brochure to the public explaining the new rules, which they had not yet approved. The brochure was sent on the ministry’s Telegram channel at 9:45 p.m. At 10:30 p.m. the message was deleted, and replaced by the statement: “The Health Ministry stresses that instructions to the public will be fully released and detailed after the cabinet discussion.”
An aide to Health Minister Yaakov Litzman apologized to ministers after they protested, according to several media reports.
Kan news reported that Environmental Protection Minister Ze’ev Elkin wrote on Whatsapp group shared by ministers that “The Health Ministry is making a mockery of the cabinet.”
Several outlets, including Channel 12 and the Ynet news site, published angry messages published in the group chat, which were apparently leaked to journalists.
Transportation Minister Bezalel Smotrich commented: “I’m not even sure why we need a cabinet meeting if everything’s been decided and released.” He went on: “We’re not obligated to what the Health Ministry published. That’s their suggestion but the authority and the responsibility is ours.”
Elkin responded: “But the media and the public have already been given decisions.”
Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan added: “I value and respect the Health Ministry director general and the positions he presents to the public but the responsibility for setting rules is ours as the cabinet and so is the need to give answers to the public.”
He said there were several elements of the new guidelines he did not agree with, including restrictions he believed could be removed, and vowed to argue that fact when the cabinet convened.
Ynet quoted one unnamed minister as complaining: “We’re not a rubber stamp.”
Others outside the cabinet also complained about the lack of clarity.
“It’s about to be midnight and it’s still not clear what can open tomorrow … do they think businesses can open with two hours warning,” Meretz leader Nitzan Horowitz tweeted. “This is how they show contempt for people’s lives.”
Israel’s unemployment rate has skyrocketed to over 26 percent since the pandemic began and strict regulations restricting what businesses may remain open were imposed last month. Business owners have complained about a lack of government aid as well as a clear roadmap for how the economy may begin to get back on its feet. On Sunday, demonstrations in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv were planned for independent contractors and beauty care workers to protest the lack of government help.
The steps announced by Netanyahu Saturday were slated to be the first tentative attempts to reopen the economy, though he warned that restrictions may be snapped back in place if signs emerge that the virus is spreading out of control.
The new guidelines as announced by the premier will include a return to work of some employees in the manufacturing and service industries, albeit under various restrictions, as well as the reopening of certain stores.
Sports activities will be allowed in pairs, up to 500 meters from home, while outdoor prayers will once again be allowed in groups of up to 10 — “a minyan” — with two meters between worshipers.
They will also see a relaunch of special education programs for groups of up to three children, and allow kids from three families to be looked after by a single day-carer.
Shopping malls, restaurants, toy shops, beauty and hair salons and clothing stores were to stay closed at this time. The public was instructed to remain within 100 meters of their home unless for permitted activities.
As reported by The Times of Israel