- Israel wants to reopen its economy with priority for those who received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
- Israel is leading the world in vaccinating its people and is starting to plan what will come next.
- The ideas are still being debated and Israel’s final policy may change.
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Israel is debating a plan to reopen parts of its economy only for those who received both doses of the coronavirus vaccine.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the plan in a speech on Sunday, and the Israeli cabinet met on Monday to further discuss the plans.
The policy is likely to attract worldwide attention: Israel has vaccinated more of its population than any other nation, with about 45% of people now receiving at least one dose.
No formal announcement was made at the time of publication, although Netanyahu explained the plan he was aiming for in some detail.
Speaking at the opening of the country’s coronavirus cabinet meeting, the Israeli Prime Minister said that the country should open “gradually and carefully,” the Jerusalem Post reported. Some in Israel are pressing for it to go faster.
Some details of Netanyahu’s plan were posted on his website on Sunday in the form of a transcribed speech.
The country is planned to open in two phases, he said: a preliminary phase followed by a more comprehensive opening in two weeks.
In this second stage, about two weeks later, the vaccinees “will be able to enter hotels, museums, cultural presentations, restaurants, swimming pools, shopping malls, basketball and football games, flights abroad and the like,” he said.
Some media outlets have reported that opening the premises for vaccinees may occur earlier.
Netanyahu promised in January that the entire country would be vaccinated by the end of March.
More than 2 million people, or just over 28% of the population, received two jabs, according to data compiled by John Hopkins University.
Data from Israel’s vaccination program showed on Friday that the Pfizer vaccine is 93% effective in preventing the disease, giving hope that mass vaccination could allow a return to normal life soon.
Read More: ICE has no plans to vaccinize 13,860 immigrants in its custody against COVID-19. See how one of the most at risk groups in the United States is falling into the cracks.
However, young Israelis were less willing to receive vaccines, which could delay implantation, since more of the adult population is offered vaccination.
This is causing tension ahead of the March elections, which will determine whether Netanyahu will remain in office.
Hareetz said Netanyahu also announced on Sunday that he plans to push for legislation to reveal the names of people who have not yet been vaccinated to local authorities.
The country has also been criticized for excluding Palestinians from launching the vaccination, said Erin Snodgrass of the Insider.