Against the background of the committee chairman Shasha-Bitton's struggle with her Likud members, the committee presented demands to the government ahead of the decisive debate tomorrow. outside

The Knesset's Corona Committee today (Sunday) discussed the approval of government decisions over the weekend regarding the various restrictions on halting the plague. At the conclusion of the discussions, the committee members decided to ask the government to allow the opening of the pools and beaches on the weekends. The committee also demands that the restaurants be left open at 35% occupancy inside, while maintaining the "purple" rules outside. The committee also demands the opening of gyms.

Photo: Knesset Channel

The discussion took place against the background of the struggle between the committee's chairman, MK Yifat Shasha-Bitton (Likud), who last night threatened not to approve the restrictions - and in response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to remove him from office.

Following the resumption of discussions in the afternoon, Deputy Health Minister Yoav Kish (Likud) joined the meeting, saying that "these moves are intended to prevent a closure." 

He added that the problem with the sea and the pools is not in the open area but in the crowds that form in these places, and so in the restaurants. He promised to look for an outline that would allow the opening of the beaches. He stressed that most patients do not know where they were infected. He said the data is marginal and one should look at the trend showing an increase in morbidity.

"We are in a mega-event, our feeling that the tanks in the Golan Heights are rushing - and not letting us bring reinforcements. In the first wave, there were patients in 78 localities, and today there are already more than 200 localities with patients," said the deputy health minister.

At the beginning of the meeting, MK Shasha-Bitton said that she "is not sure that the restrictions are the right solution now, the virus is expected to stay with us for a long time to come."

The Deputy Attorney General, Adv. Raz Nazri, participated earlier and gave indirect backing to the committee chairman, noting that "the Knesset has the authority not to approve government decisions and each of the authorities is doing its part."

Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Health, Prof. Itamar Grotto, emphasized that he was "concerned about the situation. The hospitals are crowded with corona patients and today there are 550 patients in various conditions. "Even if we announce an immediate closure - those who managed to catch up will appear in severe blues in just two weeks, and in increasing numbers."

More on this topic:

• Prime Minister begins by ousting Shasha-Bitton, Gantz opposes

• Shasha-Bitton again threatens not to approve the restrictions; Senior Likud member: She will be fired

• Yifat Shasha-Bitton: "The transitional government was a bomb; people fought for what they believed in"

• The Director General of Finance, along with the head of the budget department that Netanyahu attacked: "Brings a value and professional voice"

During the discussion, Shai Berman, CEO of the Restaurants and Bars Association, said: “We are four months into the event. We paid a heavy economic price but met very strict guidelines - a complete closure of our businesses. The drama of the Ministry of Health is a drama that only it builds, and no one except it and the Israeli government buys it. " 

Berman clarified to committee members that "the restaurateurs have completely lost faith in the decisions of the Israeli government and the Ministry of Health and from there the slope to anarchy is very slippery. We were almost there on Friday, we will be there again on Tuesday. Understand that well. I say not to threaten but because I know "That a very large public of law-abiding people who run this economy on a daily basis intend not to abide by the decisions of the Israeli government. I say this with complete confidence. You can call them anarchists and lawbreakers, but you can also deal with it." 

At the meeting, they began to read all the details of the order approved by the government so that the committee members would understand exactly what the new restrictions are. The committee's proposals for changes in restrictions will then be forwarded to the government. A follow-up hearing is expected tomorrow, in which all orders will be brought for final approval after the government clarifies whether it accepts the committee's objections.