JERUSALEM: The Israeli government approved a tight quarantine of several areas of Jerusalem on Sunday, including the historic Old City, in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus in the city’s most susceptible neighborhoods.
A ministerial committee approved the shutting down of movement in and out of several predominantly ultra-Orthodox areas of the city in order to contain the disease that has already resulted in over 100 deaths in Israel and almost 6,000 around the Middle East, about three quarters of which come from Iran.
The measure faced resistance from ultra-Orthodox ministers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government who rejected singling out their constituency.
Israel’s Health Ministry has documented over 10,000 cases of the novel coronavirus and over 100 deaths. Roughly a fifth of all cases in Israel are in Jerusalem, the ministry said.
A large percentage of the COVID-19 cases are in the country’s largely insular ultra-Orthodox community, which for weeks did not adhere to government orders to maintain social distancing.
The virus causes mild to moderate symptoms in most patients, who recover within a few weeks.
But it is highly contagious and can cause severe illness or death, particularly in elderly patients or those with underlying health problems.
BACKGROUND
• Israel’s Health Ministry has documented over 10,000 cases of the novel coronavirus and over 100 deaths.
• Roughly a fifth of all cases in Israel are in Jerusalem, the ministry said.
Starting on Sunday, residents of four areas of Jerusalem would not be permitted to leave their neighborhoods for provisioning, and could only move to other areas for essential work and medical care.
Meanwhile, Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin turned down a request from Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz for a two-week extension to form a new coalition government.
The announcement by Rivlin means that Gantz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have a midnight deadline on Monday night to reach a power-sharing deal. If they fail, the country could be forced into a fourth consecutive election in just over a year.
Gantz asked Rivlin for the extension on Saturday night, claiming he was close to a deal with Netanyahu.
But in his response, Rivlin said the extension would not be possible under the “current circumstances.”
Gantz last month was given the task of forming a government after a narrow majority of MPs said they backed him to become prime minister.
