Mandelblit claimed that the Minister of Internal Security's directive not to vaccinate the prisoners was carried out illegally.
Minister Ohana and Spokesman Mandelblit // Photo: Gideon Sharon, GPO, Gil Eliyahu, Ginny
Attorney General Avichai Mandblit harshly attacked Homeland Security Minister Amir Ohana when he responded to a petition to the High Court claiming that Ohana acted "without authority" when he ordered not to vaccinate prisoners and detainees. The vaccination campaign began, but the discussion continued.
Addressing the High Court, Mandelblit wrote: "The Attorney General's position is that the directive given by the Minister of Internal Security to the Prison Service, according to which detainees and prisoners held in the Prison Service should not be vaccinated against the corona virus before being imprisoned, She can stand.
It is a decision that violates the right of prisoners to dignity, equality and health, and there is a potential violation of their right to life as well.
All this, without any legal authority to give it. "
June Rickner
Mandelblit added: "This decision of the Minister of Internal Security was given contrary to the professional position of the Ministry of Health, the trust in determining the priority of vaccines, without relying on any factual or professional infrastructure."
Mandelblit, who is supposed to represent the government, is actually coming out against it and not for the first time.
He also did so as part of the discussion on the recent delay in the appointment of the commissioner.
Ohana called for the petitions to be dismissed
For his part, Ohana demands that the Attorney General ask the High Court to dismiss the petitions against him regarding his directive not to vaccinate the prisoners, which is also supported by Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, and to cancel the hearing scheduled for tomorrow.
In his letter, Ohana claims that he instructed the staff of his office and the prison service that vaccination of prisoners in facilities under the responsibility of the prison service will be carried out after the staff members have been vaccinated.
"As much as there is a risk of infection for prisoners at this time, it stems from the staff - coming and going through the prison gates, so it was important for me to complete the staff vaccinations first."
According to Ohana, his position was agreed with the Minister of Health in a telephone conversation that took place on December 27, 20. In which the Minister of Health stated that this position was acceptable to him. Petitions were filed against Ohana in the Supreme Court, and a hearing is scheduled for today.
According to Ohana, "the petition was given priority over thousands of cases awaiting their day in the Supreme Court in light of the urgency that stemmed from the need to decide on immediate topical relief relating to health."
However, the reason for Minister Ohana's opposition to vaccinating prisoners is also apparently related to the minister's desire to avoid vaccinating security prisoners, including terrorists.
The decision provoked outrage in the political system, mainly on the left, but also on the right, including among allies of the ruling party such as Shas.
