Israeli Defense Minister Announces ‘Major Breakthrough’ in Treating COVID-19

On May 4, Israeli Defense Minister Naftali Bennett announced that Israel’s Institute for Biological Research (IIBR) has reached a significant development in treating COVID-19. The Jerusalem Post and Times of Israel reported the IIBR has completed an antibody that attacks and neutralizes the coronavirus.

“The antibody development phase is over,” the IIBR said in a statement, adding it now is aiming “for international companies to produce the antibody in commercial quantities.”

Bennett said in a statement, “I am proud of the staff at the Israel Institute for Biological Research who have made a huge breakthrough. The creativity and Jewish mind have brought this amazing achievement. The entire defense establishment will continue to operate at the forefront of the fight against coronavirus.”

UN Watch executive director Hillel Neuer tweeted, “A shame that all those countries that support [the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement] at the U.N. will on principle be unable to benefit from this new antidote.”

A shame that all those countries that support BDS at the U.N. will on principle be unable to benefit from this new antidote https://t.co/Yo4A9VQyYe

— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) May 4, 2020

British researcher David Collier tweeted, “Most people on hearing the news that Israel has made a breakthrough in the development of an antibody that neutralizes the coronavirus: ‘Wow, I so hope that’s true.’ But to anti-Semites: ‘Well that just proves they did create the virus in the first place.’”

Most people on hearing the news that Israel has made a breakthrough in the development of an antibody that neutralises the coronavirus:

'Wow, I so hope that s true.'

But to Antisemites:

'Well that just proves they did create the virus in the first place.'

— David Collier (@mishtal) May 4, 2020

Israel’s Galilee Research Institute (MIGAL) is in the final stages of development for its vaccine, and Tel Aviv University professor Jonathan Gershoni obtained a United States patent for a COVID-19 vaccine on April 19. There are at least 100 vaccines being developed worldwide for the coronavirus.

Earlier on May 4, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a $60 million pledge from the Israeli government to organizations worldwide that are working on a COVID-19 vaccine.

“We must all work together on improving diagnostics, accelerating therapies and ultimately developing a vaccine,” Netanyahu said. “I am confident that Israel’s leading research institutions, its world-renowned scientists and our unique culture of innovation can enable us to play an important role in advancing solutions on all three fronts.”