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Less than a month before the election, fears of closing the sky are growing: "Damage to democracy"

Minister Regev announced that plans are being considered that will allow voters to arrive in Israel, but time is running out.

Legal experts warn that stopping flights is part of a series of unusual and disproportionate decisions, including the establishment of an exceptions committee and the transfer of vaccinators' data.

"The Knesset is tired of protecting human rights"

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• Ben Gurion Airport

• Exceptions Committee

• Corona virus

Daniel Dolev

Monday, 01 March 2021, 12:07

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"The steps taken are too sweeping and extreme" (Photo: Reuven Castro)

After the harsh criticism and allegations against the Exceptions Committee that approved entering and leaving Israel, the Minister of Transportation, Miri Regev, announced yesterday (Sunday) that several outlines will be examined that will allow Israelis to return to Israel to vote in elections.

Indeed, the NSC and the Ministries of Transport, Health and Justice are trying to formulate an outline that will allow this, but in the background there is still a fear of harming the right to vote because of the closure of the sky.

"Each has the right to vote, in such a recent and one that must have the right to come to Israel and vote ", Say Dr. Amir Fox and Nadiv Mordechai, researchers at the Israel Democracy Institute.

"Any other decision will be seen as a political decision. Even in light of the publications about the government's intention to re-examine the Exceptions Committees model, it should be remembered that this is not the only reason why the steps taken are too sweeping and too extreme."

"The state must find the right epidemiologically correct solution, which will also be constitutionally proportionate, and seriously discuss alternatives," they emphasize.

"Either way, the conduct of this issue should serve as a warning sign against Bezeq measures that sweepingly infringe on democratic rights or interests and the right to vote."

More on Walla!

NEWS

Regev at Ben Gurion Airport: We are examining the opening of the sky to allow us to vote again

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Fox (Photo: Courtesy of the photographers)

Both researchers make it clear that the government has a duty to protect public health, and that they believe that in most cases the violation of civil rights was justified in the face of the need to fight Corona.

But the steps taken in recent weeks - and in particular the closure of the sky - raise fears "losing the brakes".

"The decision to close Israel almost hermetically - even though it is based on professional opinions and fear of new variants - is a sweeping, illogical and disproportionate decision," they say.

"It violates a very fundamental right of every citizen, the right to enter his country, which is also protected by the Basic Law of Human Dignity and Liberty. No other democracy has taken such a draconian measure. On the contrary, democratic leadership is one that embraces its citizens and calls them home, certainly does not leave them dependent "On stopping, or treating them as 'incoming illness'. All the more so since the policy was adopted almost overnight, without prior warning."

Although, according to Fox and Mordechai, the state is certainly allowed to impose isolation in hotels on citizens returning from abroad, failure to do so effectively cannot justify draconian measures such as those taken. "The excuse that the state has difficulty enforcing isolation does not hold water.

Thousands of people should not be punished for the irresponsibility of a few.

The establishment of an Exceptions Committee, appointed by politicians, produces arguments about arbitrary decisions and a feeling among the citizens that the state is making where and when and abandoning them to their fate.

Such a model can not stand and it is good that it will be abolished.

A constitutional right cannot be replaced by an administrative exception mechanism appointed by a political echelon.

The Constitution Committee must immediately repeal the regulations that allow this injustice. "

Neglect trend

The two investigators are not only referring to the closure of the sky, but also to a law passed last week that allows the Ministry of Health to pass on to local authorities information about residents who have not been vaccinated.

"The Knesset violated, in an expedited and inappropriate procedure, the law for the transfer of non-vaccinated data. The Knesset seems to have really 'tired' of preserving democracy and human rights, and it automatically transfers any whim that comes from the government, and specifically, from the prime minister."

"A policy adopted almost overnight, without prior warning" (Photo: Reuven Castro)

"The benefit of this legislation seems slim. Will anyone be persuaded to get vaccinated because the city official approached him? The damage, however, is clear: Transferring confidential medical information to all alma mater will create suspicion and alienation of citizens towards the government and HMOs. It is also a dangerous precedent of transferring databases." In Bezeq proceedings. "

"We also support the removal of certain restrictions on vaccines, within the green label and as long as vaccines continue to be accessible," they conclude.

"But there is a difference between proportionality and arbitrariness. The erosion of human rights must not be continued under the slogans of war on the plague, even in increasing situations where it is not at all clear how the initiatives and measures taken will be useful."

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