The Government on Thursday was unable to agree on the fate of the third nation-wide lockdown in effect since early January that is set to expire at 7 AM Friday.
Ministers are set to deliberate into the night to agree on when and how the lockdown should be lifted.
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Police enforce lockdown restrictions in a road block in Jerusalem on Thrusday
(Photo: Eli Mandelbaum)
After five hours the cabinet ministers recessed while Netanyahu and Gantz continued to search for an agreed solution.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu backed by his Health Minister Yuli Edelstein wanted the lockdown to remain in place until midnight Sunday, but Defense Minister Benny Gantz insisted some restrictions could be lifted as early as Friday.
Gantz has been urging some businesses be allowed to open first and demanded a clear plan be submitted to ministers to outline the government's exit strategy from the lockdown.
But Netanyahu agreed only in principle that Israelis that were at least one week after their second vaccine would be allowed to participate in a pilot program to reopen commerce and some cultural events.
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(L-R) Defense Minister Gantz, Prime Minister Netanyahu, Finance Minister Katz and Health Miinister Edelstein and a policeman enforcing lockd
(own restrictions In Jerusalem on Thursday)
Finance Minister Yisrael Katz who was trying to mediate between the two said the pilot program could begin on Tuesday with some restrictions lifted on Monday, but the Blue & White leader persisted in his refusal to let the mitigation efforts remain in effect that long.
"Israelis are tired of the lockdown and are not observing health regulations," Gantz said in an interview to Army radio on Thursday. "There is no point in keeping the lockdown in place," he concluded.
Health Minister Yuli Edelstein said earlier that he could not be part of a decision that could cost people their lives.
Israel's death toll from COVID-19 is expected to cross the 5,000 mark overnight.
Out of 79,752 patients battling the disease, 1,098 are hospitalized in serious condition, with 340 connected to ventilators.