Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (Photo by Sebastian Scheiner – Pool/Getty Images) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on April 13 that the April 7 to April 10 restrictions would go back into effect from the evening of April 14 to the morning of April 16.
The Jerusalem Post reported that the restrictions will bar Israelis from intercity traveling; those in Jerusalem are barred from leaving their neighborhoods. The cabinet also is considering implementing a curfew during that timeframe.
The regulations are intended to prevent Israelis from overcrowding bakeries and bread departments in stores when Passover ends on the evening of April 15, meaning that they will be closed for the evening.
“If we retreat before the right time, we are likely to pay a very heavy price in human lives,” Netanyahu said. “There are outbreak hotspots, which we are giving special treatment and our attention is focused on retirement homes.”
On April 16, the Israeli cabinet will discuss how to phase out of lockdown. One such proposal from the Finance Ministry would start with opening the financial, tech and service sectors; the highest risk sectors, like malls and hotels, would re-open later.
Netanyahu pledged that the government would have a plan ready before the weekend.
Journal contributor and Israeli-based writer Hen Mazzig tweeted, “Heartbroken as this will be my first year not doing a Mimouna. And no, you can’t have a Mimouna on Zoom.”
Heartbroken as this will be my first year not doing a Mimouna. And no, you can’t have a Mimouna on Zoom.
— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) April 13, 2020
Jerusalem Post senior editor Lahav Harkov tweeted, “Haven’t the Jewish people suffered enough?”
The Healthy Ministry is considering ordering all bakeries stay closed on Thursday, after Passover ends, out of a concern that there will be crowding.
HAVEN’T THE JEWISH PEOPLE SUFFERED ENOUGH?
— Lahav Harkov (@LahavHarkov) April 13, 2020
Oh thank God, Netanyahu says only until Thursday morning
— Lahav Harkov (@LahavHarkov) April 13, 2020
UGH Pizza places can’t be open Wednesday night, either. There goes my tradition.
— Lahav Harkov (@LahavHarkov) April 13, 2020
As of this writing, there are 11,586 confirmed cases in Israel and 116 deaths from the virus.
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