More than one year ago, the coronavirus pandemic began to make headlines across the world and throw nations into chaos and disarray. While some governments have started to distribute the vaccine, the virus continues to spread rapidly. Some governments have responded to COVID-19 by instituting draconian measures intended to curtail the spread of the virus. In Israel, three health ministry officials—Chezy Levy (Director General of Ministry of Health), Yuri Edelstein (Minister of Health), and Sharon Alroy-Preis (Senior Health Ministry official)—have been hardline advocates for harsh pandemic-related policies. The group—dubbed the country’s health troika—has even inflated COVID-19 related numbers to make a case for these efforts. The country’s continuous rollout of controversial policies has raised numerous concerns as they have damaged the economy, the education sector, as well as the mental health and civil liberties of Israelis.
One example of a controversial COVID-19 measure that the health troika has implemented is forced hotel quarantines for Israeli passengers arriving from overseas. In December 2020, scientists discovered a new variation of the coronavirus in the United Kingdom, which is more infectious. As governments in other countries began to identify the mutation, the Ministry of Health forced Israeli travelers coming from the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Denmark to quarantine in hotels once arriving in the country. The government also attempted to expand this requirement to all international travelers arriving in the country. Once passengers landed, they were taken on a crowded bus directly from the plane to a hotel. Israelis reported that while on the bus, several were not wearing masks, heightening the risk of transmission. Once they arrived at the hotels, the situation didn’t improve. According to reports, the quarantine program was marred with mismanagement and chaos, and hotels often lacked necessities such as hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies. Some passengers noted that the quarantine program and the hotels served as breeding grounds for the virus, due to its unsanitary state. What’s more alarming, people had no access to natural light, completely disregarding a person’s civil liberty and their mental state. Indeed, the plan sparked backlash for infringing on civil liberties, forcing the government to withdraw the program.
Another example of a draconian policy implemented by the health troika to tackle COVID-19 is a ban on flights departing from Ben Gurion Airport. In October, the government introduced new restrictions that prevented Israelis from traveling from the airport unless they had purchased tickets before the regulations or had a certified, legitimate reason. Those who needed to travel urgently required special permission from the Transportation Ministry. The right to freedom of movement is a fundamental right enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. These restrictions are a sober reflection of the state of civil rights in the country.
The coronavirus pandemic has also had a significant impact on the mental health and well-being of the Israeli public. Israel is currently in the midst of its third nationwide lockdown. During lockdowns, people have been isolated from their friends and loved ones, which has increased the risk of suicide. According to an ERAN, a nonprofit supported by the Health Ministry, the volume of suicidal calls it has received has doubled during the lockdown. The number of suicide attempts has also increased, as has the number of domestic violence incidents. Despite knowing this shocking fact, Yuli Edelstein has continued to push for Israel to institute more lockdowns across the country, demonstrating his lack of regard for the people’s mental health.
Numerous lockdowns have also significantly impacted children with learning difficulties. As Israel cycles through restrictions, lockdowns, and phases of social distancing regulations, schools have opened and closed without clear guidance. Abrupt transitions to online learning have leftover 250,000 children with special needs the most vulnerable. In a digital environment, these students cannot obtain one-on-one assistance from teachers, and as a result, they have fallen behind in school. However, this has not been a demographic group that the health troika has focused significant effort on supporting, sparking fears that the consequences on these students’ education will be long-lasting.
The opening and closing of the economy have also inflicted major economic troubles on the Jewish state. The numerous rounds of lockdowns have upended the service economy and forced thousands of businesses to close. Projections estimate that another 7500 companies will be forced to shutter for good. Alarmingly, the government has begun to crack down on enterprise owners who are trying to salvage their livelihoods. For example, last week, police arrested the owner of a falafel shop, Ilan Atlan, and his son for allegedly operating the shop during the lockdown (although there had been no customers inside the shop at the time). Restaurants can remain open for deliveries only, this is what Atlan was doing at the time. This hardline approach isn’t acceptable and is costing Israelis their livelihoods as they struggle to make ends meet. “I have no more energy. No money to pay what I owe. Just more and more debts accumulating and no money,” said Atlan with tears in his eyes. Even though the economy and Israelis are suffering, the country’s leading health officials fail to account for their policies’ ramifications.
The coronavirus pandemic has upended Israeli society and the economy, and it will have profound and long-lasting impacts on the country. As the government tries to stem the spread of the virus, the nation’s health troika has resorted to instituting hardline and authoritative practices that have sparked controversy and backlash for undermining civil liberties, pushing Israelis into depression, economic poverty, and hopelessness. There is no doubt that the government must contain the coronavirus, but it must do so through rights-respecting and effective mechanisms.
