Over the past several months, Israel has struggled to manage the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic adequately. Although the Jewish nation was initially heralded for its pandemic response plan during the first wave, it eased restrictions prematurely, sparking a seemingly endless cycle of rising cases, lockdowns, and uncertainty. The resulting ambiguity and confusion have fomented discontent among Israelis, many of whom have taken to the streets to protest the government’s inept pandemic strategy, ongoing political infighting, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption charges.
In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Israel’s response efforts were swift and effective. The country saw its first recorded case of the coronavirus in late February, and it rapidly prohibited outside travelers from coming into the country and instituted social distancing requirements. The government also sought to get ahead of the virus by establishing mandatory lockdowns during some of the country’s busiest times, including Passover and Israeli Independence Day. While the lockdown helped to reduce human transmission, it had destructive impacts on the country’s economy, people’s livelihoods, and well-being. But the ‘success’ was short-lived as the government rushed to reopen businesses and schools, resulting in a significant rise in COVID-19 cases, sparking a second wave. Today, Israel is in the midst of its third lockdown, leaving Israelis reeling under the new restrictions as movement is limited and service-oriented businesses close.
Almost all sectors of society have been badly impacted by the pandemic. For at-risk youth, there has been an increase of 41% in calls for help this year. Elem, an aid welfare group, said there was a spike in calls relating to depression, suicide, as well as drug and alcohol abuse. For businesses, it is expected that over 55,000 will close in 2021 due to the economic impact. Unemployment in Israel has risen to 21% since the country’s first partial lockdown in March, and while the government promised aid packages to those affected, it has been slow to deliver, leaving thousands of Israelis struggling. With frustrations running high, Israelis have taken to the streets, protesting against the government’s hardline approach to combating the virus since July.
Although governments worldwide are struggling to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Israeli governments’ efforts have been marred by an ongoing political crisis that has undermined the administration’s effectiveness. Over the past two years, the Israeli government has been subject to severe political infighting, particularly between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Benny Gantz of the Blue and White Party. The disagreements amongst the established COVID Cabinet Committee was another roadblock when it came to implementing clear policies. Decisions were made slowly as meetings often had to be adjourned due to the inability to reach a verdict. For instance, as the government released the restrictions for the third lockdown, the education system was expected to shut down completely. However, a couple of days later, the Knesset decided to erase the restriction, stating that children have missed valuable classroom time this year.
Just recently, the unity government collapsed after political infighting prevented the parliament from passing an annual budget. As the country heads for its fourth election in less than two years, Israelis are growing frustrated at the government’s incompetence in managing the virus and the country as a whole. Experts predict that political infighting will continue and expand, as numerous religious and nationalist parties have grown in popularity over the past several months and have stated that they will not join a Netanyahu-led government.
Israelis perceive Netanyahu as prioritizing Israel’s reputation on the international stage over domestic affairs. When Netanyahu initially announced lockdown measures, Israelis mostly complied, believing that it would help protect the country’s economy and save lives. However, despite numerous rounds of subsequent lockdowns, the pandemic has continued to ravage the country. As a result, trust in Netanyahu and the administration has declined, as has compliance with government policies related to the pandemic. Netanyahu is already under scrutiny for corruption charges, and his failure to adequately mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in Israel has further decimated his popularity. As Netanyahu’s domestic reputation declines, several political rivals have emerged over the past several months and are likely to gain traction in the next election as Israelis seek someone who can help rebuild the economy and put health first. These include Gideon Saar, a former Netanyahu ally who resigned to form the New Hope political party, and Naftali Bennett, a former defense minister who leads the right-wing Yamina party.
The Israeli people are clearly losing faith in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership and administration, which has been consumed with political infighting for the past several years. Israelis want a government that will prioritize the people’s needs and put an end to the COVID-19 pandemic that has ravaged the nation’s economy and health sectors. As Israel heads into its fourth round of elections, such a change could be just around the corner.
