Covid-19 in Israel: reopening of cafes and restaurants in trompe-l'oeil
Audio 01:22
Person passing the broom, before reopening his restaurant in Jerusalem (Photo illustration).
AFP - MENAHEM KAHANA
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
Sixteen days before the elections, the Israeli government gave the green light, this Sunday, March 7, for the reopening of restaurants, cafes, reception halls, hotels and certain schools.
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From our special correspondent in Tel Aviv
,
Michel Paul
The espresso machine has been running full time since this morning.
And the patrons of this trendy cafe in northern Tel Aviv seem astonished to be able to resume their ways.
But for Muli the boss it is not comparable with the world before.
“
It's an optical illusion.
It is not an opening.
We just put tables and chairs.
If a child under 12 goes to the toilet indoors, I have to pay a fine of
5,000 shekels.
So, it's open just for aesthetics!
He said.
►Also read: How Israel became the champion of vaccination against Covid-19
The guidelines are clear.
The vaccinated are served indoors, the others must be content with the terrace.
And the customers are chatting.
Edna agrees: “
It's not political.
We are vaccinated.
If we behave responsibly, we are out of business.
It depends on the audience.
We cannot let everything close
”.
"
It's too fast
"
Others like Kineret Barashi, a well-known lawyer, do not hide a certain concern.
“
I think it's too fast.
Maybe it had to be done differently.
But on the other hand, we are the first in the world, the most vaccinated,
”she said.
Some schools, after months of closure, will be reopened.
Pupils in grades 5 to 9 will be able to return to school, but only in areas where the contamination rate remains low.
Some are only open to holders of the
"green passport"
, vaccinated and cured of Covid-19.
In opposition, these relief measures are believed to give Prime Minister Netanyahu the image of victory he was looking for two weeks before the parliamentary elections.
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