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JULY 23, 2020
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to prevent increased infection. “To approve mass demonstrations that pose a health hazard to all Israeli citizens, while closing many businesses that adhere to the guidelines on the other, is absurd,” said Likud MK Miki Zohar. “The government must decide: Open the whole economy including mass demonstrations full of unjustified hatred or immediately stop these sponsored demonstrations in the same way they decided to close the businesses.” Justice Minister Avi Nissenkoren rejected Zohar’s demand, writing that he would do everything in his power to safeguard the “sacrosanct” right to protest as is customary in a democracy. “Even under limitations, we will ensure civil rights,” Nissenkorn wrote on Facebook. “The fundamentals of democracy are important during regular times, and even more important during emergencies.”
B A LT I M O R E J E W I S H H O M E . C O M
Netanyahu to Fire COVID-19 Panel Head
David Flamm
O 410-616-9186 C 718-404-5598 david@flammins.com
www.flammins.com
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would fire MK Yifat Shaha-Biton from her post as the head of the Knesset’s COVID-19 panel on Saturday. Netanyahu’s decision to axe the young lawmaker came after she defied the premier and refused to shutter gyms, restaurants, and beaches. Shasha-Biton had told Channel 13’s ‘Meet The Press’ television program on Saturday evening that she would not accede to the prime minister’s orders unless he presented data showing that gyms were known causes of infection. Despite Netanyahu’s anger, Shasha-Biton dug in her heels and maintained that she would not destroy the livelihoods of so many Israelis if there was no obvious health imperative justifying it. In a series of tweets
after being fired, the Likud legislator declared that she was prepared to be removed from her senior position if it meant assisting struggling small business owners. “I am a member of the coalition and respect the decisions of the government. A key part of the Knesset’s work is to review the work of the government. When there are mistakes, they need to be corrected,” tweeted Shasha-Biton. “My job is to examine the best ways to fight the virus, to maintain the mental and physical health of the citizens and to save the livelihoods of tens of thousands of workers,” she added. “I entered politics for one purpose: to serve the people of Israel. If I have to pay a personal price for it, I will accept it with love. Shasha-Biton’s refusal marks a rare case of public insubordination vis a vis Netanyahu from a serving Likud member. The clash between the two politicos comes amid rising public anger against sudden large-scale shutdowns meant to combat the spread of the coronavirus that are not backed by data or medical opinions. On Thursday, Netanyahu ordered hotels and restaurants to shutter for the weekend and after 5 P.M. on weekdays effective immediately. However, the timetable for the closures was delayed until Tuesday after hundreds of establishments signed a petition vowing to defy the order. Saying that the lockdown was thrust upon them with no notice, the restaurants said that they would lose considerable sums of money from the food they were now forced to throw away.
Gun-Waving St. Louis Couple Indicted The husband and wife who went viral after waving firearms at violent rioters in St. Louis last month were indicted for a slew of felonies.
