By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D
JERUSALEM — Israel’s incidence of deaths, as a percentage of those ill, has climbed from 10 percent of the world average to 17 percent. However, the incidence of daily increase in infections is lessening. And there’s a greater number getting healthy than getting sick.
More than a third of the deaths are those living in senior facilities, many of them with other health issues.
The advantages of a young population and the onset of warmer weather? Plus a strict lockdown of the population?
Along with other countries, we’ve begun a lessening of the restrictions, in order to provide some life to the economy.
Still no school? But there is a renewal of special education.
There’s an elaborate scheme of which businesses are allowed to open, and the internal controls required in each. There’s also a response to pressure from religious politicians to allow group prayers, but with masks and at least two meters gap between each of the participants.
We’ve also been freed from our 100 meter limit from the house, to now 500 meters. That allows a considerable extension of our daily walks.
And insofar as industry and high-tech will be relatively free, there’s a provision that it’ll be possible to arrange small groups of small children, to be cared for by one of the parents, or a care-giver who is less than 65 years old.
We’ll see how that goes. Perhaps the more detailed, the less the implementation.
So far, the plan seems confused rather than clear. And widely evaded. With the police hesitant, waiting for it to be processed into legal papers, and with what appears to be minimum and sporadic enforcement. Along with angry demonstrations, only some of them honoring the rules about masks and separations between participants.
Most upset seem to be the country’s independents. Those working for themselves. They’re demanding grants to stay afloat during their enforced unemployment, and accusing Bibi of ignorance, plus an attachment to big business.
The list includes operators of restaurants, people who cut hair, falafel stand operators. It also includes store owners allowed to open, but reluctant to obey the several requirements about testing customers for fever, and limiting the number allowed in the store. And there’s also opposition by those running large chains, allowed to open stores on the street but not within shopping malls.
There are harsh worries about nursery schools and higher grades. Distance learning isn’t working, especially for the families without computers, or enough computers for all their children.
A demonstration was led by Gantz’s former colleagues in Blue and White, against his caving in to Bibi’s demands. This one more orderly and polite than demonstrations by independents. Thousands spread two meters from one another, in a central square of Tel Aviv. With Moshe Yaalon urging Gantz to return to their bloc.
We’re also in the midst of overtly political confusion. There’s a three-week window of opportunity for the Knesset to select the leader of a government, and on-again off-again negotiations between Gantz and Netanyahu.
Benny Gantz split his Blue andWhite party when, presumably, he had an agreement with Bibi. Bibi would be Prime Minister for a year and one half, while Gantz would be his Deputy and Defense Minister. Then they’d switch being Prime Minister.
We heard several times about an agreement about to be signed. Then Bibi found problems in the deal. He initially demanded equity in the appointment of judges; then protection from the judicial process, so he couldn’t be deposed by the court.
Both of Gantz’s former colleagues–Yair Lapid and Moshe Yaalon–had served as Ministers in previous Bibi governments, and presumably warned Gantz about relying on him. But he took a chance, and gave up his political position as big party head.
Once Gantz was weakened, Bibi returned to his posture as Who Else But Me. He remained the head of a political bloc, and saw no need to cave into someone weaker.
But his political bloc is not big enough to select him as Prime Minister.
Gantz–finally–seemed to give up on reaching an agreement with Netanyahu. Gantz is working as Knesset Speaker, and using his authority to enact legislation that would keep an indicted Netanyahu from being named Prime Minister.
We were getting ready for that election, and waiting on the Knesset or a Supreme Court ruling that Bibi cannot be named Prime Minister with three indictments against him. Currently his trial is due to begin in May, but we’ll wait on efforts to postpone that yet again.
But again, reports of the sides being very close to an agreement.
And then a signing.
We’ll see.
Today is the Holocaust Memorial Day, and we won’t hear about details until tomorrow.
Commentators are saying that Bibi got the better of Gantz, but there is work to be done before the government is formally approved.
And next week begins the month of Ramadan. We’re hearing of a policy, like that of Passover, to severely limit visiting and extensive family celebrations.
Lots to be done, both in politics and with respect to Coronavirus.
And how long will the government last?
And will Bibi step down after a year and one half?
We’ll see.
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Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D., is professor emeritus of political science at Hebrew University. He may be contacted via ira.sharkansky@sdjewishworld.com