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Edelstein's move shatters hope in Eilat and the Dead Sea: "Tourism islands have become dead islands"

Eilat and the Dead Sea have already begun preparations for the opening of the hotels, returned workers from the hospital and even purchased supplies. However, the Minister of Health withdrew the bill to open the hotels and restaurants, and feelings of frustration and disappointment resurface.

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• Knesset

• The Dead Sea

• Eilat

• Hotels

• July Edelstein

• Corona virus

• Meir Yitzhak Halevi

Yanir will defend

Monday, 09 November 2020, 22:58

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In the video: Edelstein withdraws the bill to open Eilat and the Dead Sea (Photo: Knesset Channel, edited by: Assaf Drori)

Hotel managers and restaurant owners in Eilat and the Dead Sea are angry about the withdrawal of the bill that will allow them to be opened, during the vote tonight (Monday) in the Knesset plenum.

After months of having to close their doors due to the Corona plague, Health Minister Yuli Edelstein's decision to withdraw the proposal that would turn Eilat and the Dead Sea into "tourist islands" shattered their hopes of reopening.

Most of them were already ready to return to activity.

They returned the workers from the hospital, cleaned and disinfected the hotels, renewed the supply inventory - all in preparation for the long-awaited opening, which was again postponed.

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"We were left orphans."

Closed beach in Eilat following the corona, May (Photo: Yossi Zeliger, Flash 90)

"We are in shock, it is a shame and a disgrace. Tourism islands have turned us into dead islands," says Etty Krihali, the deputy director of human resources at the Isrotel chain. "There was elation - and now it's discouraging.

It's like we're left orphans.

"We don't have anyone who cares and cares about us, we are not counted.

"

"We also sent our employees to do caravan tests. We had hope, and now we are throwing months of thorough work in the trash."

"The eyes of many who have lost their livelihoods are married to the government and the Knesset."

Dead Sea (Photo: Aaron Crohn, Flash 90)

The chairman of the Eilat Restaurants and Bars Association, Ronen Moore, describes a complete collapse in Eilat. "Our situation is not good, and we are angry.

The city is not on the verge of collapse - it is already collapsing, "he says." We all made preparations, and we were ready to open.

Hotels and restaurants back working, We increased staff towards the end of a full week, we bought supplies - and again they forgot us. "

" All those who dare and were afraid to vote for the bill caused enormous damage, "adds Moore." If people do not start to get a backbone and learn to live side by side The corona epidemic - the entire country's economy will collapse, not just Eilat. "

"We were forgotten again."

Closed beach in Eilat, May (Photo: Yossi Zeliger, Flash 90)

The president of the Israel Hotels Association, Amir Haik, said that this is a situation in which everyone is right.

"The Minister of Health is right in his method when he tries to limit the use of the tools of the Green Islands, and Knesset members are also right in their method when they call on the government to set clear criteria and allow this in other cities as well," Hayek describes.

"In the end, the hotels in Eilat and the Dead Sea remain closed. Thousands of workers who were supposed to return last week remain at home - and the fog is still heavy."

The head of the Tamar Regional Council, Nir Wenger, who owns the Dead Sea hotels, claims that the decision can be changed in the coming days.

"In recent weeks, we have had discussions and preparations that led to the construction of the bill, which unfortunately did not pass," he says.

"I sincerely hope that in the coming days everyone will reach understandings and agreements for the benefit of the residents of the eastern Negev and the Dead Sea, so that all the people of Israel can come and rest."

He said, "This must be resolved soon. The eyes of many who lost their livelihoods are married to the Israeli government and the Knesset. I congratulate and thank the Minister of Tourism Orit Farkash HaCohen and all those involved in the craft for the good experience and intention to revive tourism in the Dead Sea and Eilat area."

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To the full article

Mayor of Eilat: "Garbage Can Politics"

Edelstein withdrew the bill at the last minute, while voting in the Knesset plenum, which means that the hotels in Eilat and the Dead Sea will not open for another week, and perhaps even longer.

The move caused an uproar in the Knesset plenum, and many MKs from the opposition shouted "shame" to the representatives of the coalition.

Edelstein asked to withdraw the bill after changes required to make it through qualifications submitted, so that among other things would not be possible to declare a "tourist islands" in areas other than the Eilat and Part of the coalition voted against the reservations, Edelstein did not get a majority for them, and he wanted to stop the vote. The

mayor of Eilat, Meir Yitzhak Halevi, attacked MKs after the event in the plenum.

"It's all politics of trash, shame and disgrace," he shouted at them.

"Thugs are sitting here, it's unbelievable. About what? There's a story here, an event, what's there? Can anyone explain to me so I can understand?"

Valid for Knesset members after the withdrawal of the bill.

Yitzhak Halevi (Photo: courtesy of the photographer)

Edelstein explained that he withdrew the bill because of "populist MKs who took Eilat hostage to whims that endanger public peace."

He said, "Everyone becomes an epidemiologist and a health expert on his own behalf. I submitted the bill, in collaboration with the mayor of Eilat, to save the city. I said in advance that I could not use it to bring about health abandonment."

The Minister of Health added that "as soon as the bill reached the Knesset, it was loaded with more areas and other dangerous actions. I said: Let's vote for the government bill. Unfortunately, populism won. I will return the bill on conditions that will not endanger the residents of Eilat and the rest of the country. That murmur must pass from the world. "

Attracted the bill to open hotels in Eilat and the Dead Sea.

Edelstein (Photo: Danny Shem Tov, Knesset Spokeswoman)

The bill stipulated that in order to enter a special tourist area, a negative result in a corona examination performed during the 72 hours prior to entry would be required.

Residents and workers of the area and nearby localities as well as those who rely on the essential services provided in the area, will be entitled to receive immediate inspection and free of charge at the entrance to the area.

Further under the proposal, the government would be entitled to prescribe an exemption from inspection or a different frequency of performance for those people.

However, the bill was not approved.

Last week it was supposed to go up for final approval but the vote was rejected, also due to the dispute between Edelstein and the Knesset.

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