Skip to main content

Coronavirus: Israel approves emergency measures to control population

Israel has ordered the whole population to remain inside their homes
People walking by the shore in Tel Aviv after the government urged citizens to stay home (Reuters)

Israel's cabinet has unanimously approved emergency regulations on the population's movement to halt the spread of the coronavirus, the prime minister's office said in a statement on Friday. 

The meeting followed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu order for a full lockdown of the population from Thursday night. 

He said his previous request for people to self-isolated was "simply not enough."

"Under these restrictions you, citizens of Israel, are required to stay home. It is no longer a request. It is no longer a recommendation. It is a binding directive that will be enforced by the enforcement authorities," Netanyahu said. 

His government had already ordered the domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet to digitally monitor the movements of coronavirus patients using their phones. 

Stay informed with MEE's newsletters

Sign up to get the latest alerts, insights and analysis, starting with Turkey Unpacked

 

The Supreme Court yesterday ordered the government to establish a parliamentary oversight committee for this operation after it was challenged in court by Palestinian citizens of Israel. 

Israel had already imposed extra restrictions on occupied Palestinian territories since the outbreak began, including on the blockaded Gaza Strip and Bethlehem, where many travel from daily to work in Israel. 

Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.