Israel tightens confinement amid coronavirus outbreak

After the spring success and the summer failure in containing the coronavirus, Israel begins a harsh autumn marked by an unprecedented health and economic crisis under a second wave reflected this Tuesday in the

.

With this data on the table and despite its numerous discrepancies, the Israeli Government has voted this morning in favor of the tightening of the confinement that started last Friday with so many holes that it looked like a Gruyère cheese with a mask.

The general closure - from this Friday until October 11 and more hermetic than that of half a year ago - seeks to contain the outbreak even if it involves

.

The new limitations are significantly expanded in the public and private sectors (closure of non-essential workplaces and centers, shops, etc.), public transport (minimum services), Ben Gurion Airport (ban on outbound flights except emergencies) and in two issues that fueled internal tensions especially in the divided government coalition: prayers in synagogues and especially the weekly demonstrations against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.

In both cases, the new confinement establishes

keeping two meters distance in open space and only one kilometer from their homes.

In this sense, the specific exception will take place on the most sacred day of the Jewish religion

(from this Sunday night to Monday night) in which it is possible to pray in the synagogues but with a reduced capacity of 10 people.

"We are at the moment of truth.

. In recent days, experts have told us that if we do not take harsh and immediate measures we will reach the mouth of the abyss. The goal it is saving many lives in Israel, "Netanyahu told his ministers before the vote, noting that in two weeks the closure will be eased" based on the data on infections. "

With 6,923 new cases diagnosed this Tuesday in a population of 9,246,000 inhabitants,

.

It should be remembered that exactly one month ago (August 23), 504 new cases were reported.

In his television appearances, Netanyahu

(closure of airspace, limitations and confinement) and refers to the relatively small number of deaths since then (1325) but now he must deal with a dizzying trend negative especially with regard to the number of seriously ill patients: 657 (including 161 under artificial respiration).

On August 23, the seriously ill amounted to 398. That day, the number of infected as a whole from the beginning reached 101,000.

A month later, it is more than double (204,690).

"We really have much more work than before but I don't see any nerves or panic," paramedic Idan tells EL MUNDO during a visit to a home in Jerusalem.

The fear is that the situation will get out of control in such a way that many hospitals will reach a situation of serious difficulties in providing satisfactory services to all their patients, whether or not they have the virus.

In addition, around 4,000 members of the medical staff are in quarantine.

"According to the model we are studying, in the optimistic scenario we will reach 900 seriously ill patients within two weeks regardless of whether there is closure today or not. In November we could reach 3,500 seriously ill", warns Professor Eran Segal of the Weizmann Scientific Institute.

Internal polarization makes decisions difficult

Failure against the virus in the last three months has many parents.

In the first place, the hesitant and slow management of the

.

The two blocks - the right led by Netanyahu and the center left of Azul y Blanco led by Benny Gantz - hold marathon and disputed meetings to agree on measures that in some cases are modified at the last minute.

The permanent threat of new elections that Netanyahu could promote to prevent Gantz from being prime minister next year according to the rotation agreement and the protests against him for corruption (the trial for bribery, fraud and breach of trust resumes in January) increased tension and disagreements in the Government, delaying decisions to combat the pandemic.

Other reasons are the rapid and wide de-escalation in May that unleashed the chain of infections (especially due to weddings and return to classrooms) and the lack of awareness in the street about the danger of the virus.

Finally,

(in favor and against Netanyahu) and the sectorialization of a society in which each sector denounces the privileges of the others during confinement.

The ultra-Orthodox warned that it is not fair that they are not allowed to pray en masse in synagogues - especially in the holiest phase of the Jewish calendar - as thousands of protesters gather each week in Jerusalem to protest against Netanyahu.

The secular majority denounced that the limitations are less severe with the more religious due to the political pressure exerted by the two Jaredi parties in the Government and especially in Netanyahu.

"I defend the right of demonstration but it cannot be that citizens spend the festivities in their homes alone while thousands demonstrate in Jerusalem," Netanyahu denounced at the cabinet meeting.

Ministers of the center-left bloc accused him of "thinking and only working to avoid the demonstrations outside his residence in Balfour."

Finance Minister Israel Katz and the coordinator in the management of the pandemic, Dr. Ronni Gamzu, opposed the wide shutdown of the economy as it was approved at dawn.

Rabbi David Yosef supports the

: "If you can pray in an open space, better and if not, then everyone at home. The value of life is paramount."

Several religious leaders, however, made the closure conditional on the cessation of the crowds in the demonstrations.

"In a democratic state, the right to demonstrate is sacred. The request to pray as the Jewish people have done for thousands of years is also sacred and just," Gantz tweeted in the morning before adding: "But it is no less important. , especially in moments of national crisis, the right to health and safety. Among all these rights we must balance ".

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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