By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D
JERUSALEM — There are a lot of questions in the air, along with hopes of some stability in both politics and health. It’s not easy to summarize, but here we go:
Most of our news is about the upturn in revealed cases of COVID-19. We’re at several hundred per day, but with few hospitalizations and deaths. There’s some cases of infection among those who’ve received two inoculations, but most of those are not serious.
Most infections seem to have begun with people arriving from overseas, infecting kids in schools, and then onward.
So there’s been a tightening of examinations at the airport, and more fines of people who violate rules about quarantining themselves, but there remains severe criticism about the functioning of the airport. At the least there are long lines to be checked of those arriving, which are likely to be breeding grounds for passing infections. There’s a separation of those coming from highly infected countries into a separate terminal. But in that same terminal are domestic passengers from Eilat. Mixing with those coming from Russia, India, and South Africa.
There’s some discussion about closing the airport altogether. However, against this are claims of some experts that we’ll just have to live with the issue of minor infections, few serious cases and deaths, but a lot of vaccinations that keep the issue manageable.
Among the steps taken by the Health Ministry is the ordering of renewed testing of those resident and working in the various institutions for the aged. And a renewed emphasis on using masks within buildings and urging an avoidance of participation in mass meetings indoors. But so far an avoidance of anything more dramatic by way of limiting our movement, purchasing things in stores, or gatherings in parks or at beaches as the weather warms.
Politically we’re also on a low flame.
Things aren’t moving with any speed in the Knesset. Opposition remains loud from Likud and the ultra-Orthodox. Issues delayed by means of filibusters. Opponents continue referring to the Prime Minister as an illegal occupier of the office, and as a product of a stolen election. But the ministries seem to be functioning, with ongoing efforts and new appointments. Politics largely on hold while the government is working. More criticism within Likud of Netanyahu. Perhaps he’s not doing enough to spark the opposition. And he still hasn’t left his residence on Balfour Street. We’re being reminded of previous transfers when the departing Prime Minister left that residence within a day of losing office.
There is some concern about the annual renewal of the Citizenship Law, which denies Israeli citizenship to Palestinians who marry Israelis. Both Ram and Meretz have indicated that they oppose the enactment. And Likud has opposed its enactment, largely for the purpose of embarrassing the government. A vote is scheduled for this week, and the future of the government may hang in the balance. But in the meantime, negotiations continue, focusing on Ram and Meretz. And some indication that Likudniks will vote to pass the law.
We’ll see.
Yet things continue. More news of health issues and traffic accidents than of politics each hour on the radio, and nightly on television.
Bibi’s criminal trial proceeds with the speed of a wounded turtle. Postponements demanded by his attorneys, and granted by the judges. One can guess that we’ll see some kind of plea bargaining, but that may be years into the future.
And a legal tussle between the Natanyahus and Ehud Olmert. Olmert is demanding a psychiatric exam of Bibi, Sara, and Yair, as part of his defense against a charge of defamation against him. Olmert claims that Sara has undergone treatment for a mental disorder.
*
Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D., is professor emeritus of political science at Hebrew University. He may be contacted via irasharkansky@sdjewishworld.com