It could be dangerous for Israel to lift its current lockdown too soon, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday at the start of a cabinet meeting.
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"Many countries in Europe are extending lockdowns until March or even April. We need to make an immediate decision to extend the existing lockdown. It might not be popular, or convenient during an election, but that is what we need to decide today, and I expect everyone to support it," Netanyahu said.
"If we lift the lockdown, it will cost many lives. What should steer us all is saving lives and [preventing] the collapse of the healthcare system – no other consideration. I know that this is a hard decision for many Israelis, but what we need is one last effort, a joint effort by all of us to make our way out of COVID and save lives," the prime minister continued.
Touching on a mass wedding held in Bnei Brak on Monday, Netanyahu said, "I am calling on all citizens, even the ones who took part in the scandalous wedding in Bnei Brak, to stop breaking the law. This is bloodshed. I am calling on the police to wield an iron fist against all lawbreakers, no matter who they are."
Ahead of the cabinet meeting, Defense Minister Benny Gantz told a meeting of ministers from his Blue and White faction that he would support extending the lockdown by 10 days if certain conditions were met: that enforcement in outbreak hotspots would be stepped up and fines for violations increased; and aid would be allocated for small and mid-sized businesses.
Gantz also called to vaccinate youths age 16-18 to ensure that high school matriculation exams could take place as scheduled, and demanded that Israelis present proof of a negative COVID test before flying back from abroad.
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