Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Resistance To Israeli Government Policy On Addressing COVID-19

Israeli Parliament (Rafael Nir / Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Israeli Prime Minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu has tested negative for COVID-19. PM Netanyahu was tested for COVID-19 after an aide was confirmed as positive. Even though he tested negative, the 70-year-old leader will remain in isolation.

The Israeli Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) regulation requires 14 days of self-isolation for anyone who is deemed to have been near sufferers of COVID-19. Citing Reuters on Tuesday, March 31, the infected aide was at a parliamentary meeting last week. The meeting was attended by Netanyahu as well as members of the opposition parliament.

The meeting discussed forming an emergency coalition to help overcome the COVID-19 crisis in Israel. Opposition leader Benny Gantz said that the existence of COVID-19 has made the opposition unite with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and this is a surprising step that could end a year of political deadlock.

The Israeli government itself has also decided to impose a lockdown to reduce the spread of the virus. Israel has deployed armed forces to support police in street patrols and enforce lockdown rules.

About five hundred soldiers have joined the police force since March 29, 2020 to patrol, isolate communities and secure certain areas. Armed troops plus one army battalion will be deployed to each of the eight districts, the military said.

The joint team also blocked routes and added other similar tasks. Authorities also tightened lockdown measures by requiring residents to live in and near their homes. If they violate, they will be subject to sanctions. Security has also put in place roadblocks to enforce restrictions on movement and prevent gatherings.

The lockdown action taken by Israel also has an impact on shaking the Israeli economy. The central bank, this week, is projecting a 2.5 percent economic contraction in 2020. This figure is correct if the lockdown ends at the end of April.

Even so, not everyone can heed these rules. Israeli police have used a drone, helicopters and stun grenades in recent days to prevent people from gathering in the ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighborhood of Jerusalem.

This group is known to be against the steps of the Israeli Ministry of Health in tackling COVID-19. On Monday March 30, Israeli police encountered resistance and verbal abuse while enforcing restrictions on activities in an area whose residents have long been deemed to reject state rule, Mea Shearim.

"Nazi!" shouted a group of boys, as policemen pulled people from the narrow streets of Mea Shearim.

Israeli officials describe the ultra-Orthodox as a group that is vulnerable to the transmission of COVID-19 because the housing they live in tends to be poor and overcrowded. At certain times, they are accustomed to holding services with large congregations.

According to the Times of Israel, Ultra-Orthodox Jews account for 60 percent of the total COVID-19 patients treated at the ICU Sheba Medical Center, Israel's largest hospital located outside Tel Aviv. In addition, 50 percent of the patients at other regional hospitals are also ultra-Orthodox Jews.

The report comes amid thinning the patience of officials in the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community. Ultra-Orthodox Jewish members are, in the eyes of the government, a pebble because of their disregard for government calls for restrictions on public gatherings and activities.

The Israeli government is still having long discussions about how to push for stricter compliance with restrictions on COVID-19-related activities in the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community. Israel has reported nearly five thousand confirmed cases of COVID-19. A total of 16 patients were declared dead and 161 people were successfully cured.