PM hinted that demand for transfer of powers to Defense Ministry, as Gantz suggested, could lead to another election campaign

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Health Minister Yuli Edelstein are now (Thursday) making a special statement to the media following the increase in morbidity in Corona. 

Netanyahu said: "The Corona crisis continues to hit the world. Every day - almost 200,000 are infected. In many countries, the number of patients has climbed again. This is a tremendous storm that raises casualties and damages the economy and routine. Summer, and it didn't happen. The Corona is still here, and big. "

"I attach great importance to resuming economic activity, but I emphasized that this is contingent on adhering to the health guidelines - mask, distance and hygiene. I also said that, as the situation and developments prolonged, we would open the limits and tighten them from time to time. 

Earlier, there was a fierce confrontation between the Likud and the Blue and White in the Corona Cabinet debate over whether to transfer powers to the Ministry of Defense, as Defense Minister Benny Gantz suggested. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu knocked on the table and angrily told Sherry Blue and White: "You are doing politics. That leads to one thing." Netanyahu and Edelstein opposed Gantz's proposal and the debate exploded.

Gantz argued that the operation must be the Home Front Command, which can manage events of this magnitude: "All the operation must go to the Home Front and the Ministry of Defense. We are required to move to an operating model that policy decisions are made in the Cabinet, the Ministry of Health defines the regulation and the Ministry of Defense is the operation." 

Health Minister Yuli Edelstein said in response: "The Home Front Command and our officers and IDF soldiers are our dear partners. But when I see the announcements about the need to transfer powers from the Department of Health, in my lexicon it is not called for getting under a stretcher. It's called politics at the expense of Israeli citizens. "

During the meeting, there was an argument between Tourism Minister Asaf Zamir and Netanyahu. Zamir argued that there was insufficient enforcement of the wearing of the masks. Netanyahu replied: "This is not the municipality of Tel Aviv."

More on:

The government approved the new restrictions

Corona Cabinet: Netanyahu ordered to shorten the epidemiological investigations and testing times

Signs: The government will limit events to 50 people

The root of the confrontation is the refusal of Blue and White two weeks ago to bring back Shin Bet, as opposed to Netanyahu and Likud ministers. Also, other measures proposed by Likud, Blue and White brake.

Following the state of corona disease in Israel, a government meeting is now underway where ministers are expected to approve the Ministry of Health's recommendations. Now, the government is expected to approve the restriction of crowds of up to 50 people in the halls and banquets, as well as the limitation of crowds of any other kind to 20 people, the same is true in the synagogues.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during the Corona Cabinet meeting that "The cost of making health and economic mistakes can be very difficult. In his words, he says that only minimal guidelines will now be taken, with no extreme steps and no decisions that will lead to the economy's closure or massive economic damage.