Prime Minister Naftali Bennett addressed the public on his Facebook page and detailed in a long post the national plan for dealing with the delta wave.
Bennett explained his motives for his opposition to the closure, warning: "We are facing difficult days."
"Our goal is simple: to preserve the health of the citizens of Israel and also to preserve the economic future of the State of Israel," Bennett writes.
"The livelihood of the citizens of Israel is also the preservation of their lives."
The strategy - vaccines instead of closures
Bennett: "The strategy is to act to mitigate the disease - to accelerate the third vaccination campaign - and with their help defeat the Delta epidemic. "And to transfer money to the closed businesses and the workers who stayed at home. But the closure policy has a terrible price. One consideration before us is to reduce morbidity and reduce mortality. But there are of course other considerations including earning the citizens of Israel, educating Israeli children and saving Israel's economic future."
Photo: Shmuel Buharis
Bennett demonstrated: "Consider, for example, those killed in road accidents. After all, it was possible to bring deaths from road accidents to zero by banning driving on Israeli roads. But we all understand that we must live and allow traffic in Israel. The same goes for Delta. Under responsibility. "
Bennett stressed: "The price tag of the three closures led by the previous government was two hundred billion shekels. This is our money, yours and those of your children and grandchildren. If we continue with the closure policy and the destructive restrictions on the economy, we will simply be financially impoverished. "
Closure, February 2021, Oren Ben Hakon
Bennett continues, "I am asked, 'Nevertheless, you are consciously allowing hundreds of people to die from corona.' We, the Israeli government, make sure to vaccinate every citizen of the right age. This is possible thanks to our hard work.You, for your part, must preserve your life and the lives of your loved ones - get vaccinated, many vaccine points available, put on a mask in enclosed spaces and reduce crowds.It is not always simple but it is necessary.
"Delta Wave Begins Before My Government"
Bennett mentions that the delta wave began before the formation of the government under his leadership, and implies that the Netanyahu-Ganz government did not take the necessary steps. "Enter a room in Israel in March, April and May. We are taking responsibility and are now implementing important steps that have not been taken so far, such as vaccinating millions of adults with a third vaccine. At the moment, the State of Israel is the only one in the world." We are strengthening hospitals with more standards of doctors and nurses, and HMOs and the entire health care system, after many years of neglecting these critical parts of the system. I hope to see hundreds of thousands of tests a day during the epidemic that will allow us to isolate patients and amputate infection chains.The Department of Homeland Security has stepped up enforcement on wearing masks, keeping a green mark, and maintaining isolation.We are preparing a way to have schools in the Corona while. We first led a state-funded green label for ages 12-3. Meaning: more testing, more Delta carrier discoveries, less infection. We are currently managing the epidemic in a considered and smart manner. "
When will it end?
As for the future, Bennett believes we will overcome the delta, but does not commit to a date.
"What next? When will it end? I do not know, I certainly can not specify the date. More difficult days are expected, but I am sure that if we act according to plan, and if Israeli citizens wear masks, they will be vaccinated as soon as possible, and if we act in solidarity and mutual aid - We will overcome the delta. "
A woman receives the third vaccine dose against the corona, in Tel Aviv, Gideon Markovich
On the criticism of him, Bennett said: "I accept the criticism with understanding. My job is to do what is right to do and not what is easy to do. To close the country - it is very easy. But what is right is to turn every stone - so that Israeli citizens are healthy, Israel "It will remain open, to keep the citizens of Israel on a physical, mental and economic level, so that it will not be broken down to warm up and will not lose their livelihood - and to make the right decisions for that purpose."