The Knesset on Sunday approved the bill to increase fines for individuals flouting public health restrictions from NIS 5,000 to NIS 10,000, paving the way for the extension of the nationwide lockdown.
The Blue & White party has conditioned its support for the extension of the current lockdown on the bill becoming a law. The measure has run into stiff opposition from the ultra-Orthodox parties after it became apparent the Haredi sector, which brazenly flouts the restrictions, will be disproportionally affected by the legislation.
"I welcome the fact that after endless attempts to postpone the discussion in every possible way, we are now discussing the law that will allow increased and equal enforcement against a minority that harms the entire public and endangers its health,” said Defense Minister Benny Gantz at the plenum.
“I saw the pictures of thousands gathering in violation of the law in Jerusalem - this is not public discipline...We must respect and enforce the law, otherwise we will lose our government, our sovereignty, our enforcement and our rule of law.”
“I hear that there are MKs who say that this is a law aimed against the ultra-Orthodox or Arabs. I tell you that it is not aimed against the ultra-Orthodox or Arabs, it is a law designed to save human lives,” added Gantz.
Some lawmakers suggested not to extend the current nationwide lockdown, instead imposing differential closures based on the respective infection rate in each community.
Health Minister Yuli Edelstein, who also took the plenum stand, brushed off the suggestion.
"In the current situation, there is no way we can switch to a differential closure," said Edelstein. "Currently only 9% of the municipalities in Israel are green. I have heard interesting proposals to open education in the green municipalities, but the issue is that most of them do not have schools, because they mainly kibbutzim and moshavim. There are almost no green cities in Israel."
The cabinet is set to convene later in the evening to discuss a 10-day lockdown extension, which would include the continued shuttering of the Ben Gurion Airport.
Ahead of the cabinet meeting, Likud MK and Knesset Speaker Yariv Levin scolded Gantz, claiming he issued an ultimatum and demanded that the plenum convenes on Thursday, when it usually has a day off, to discuss raising the fines.
"[Gantz] decided to hold the citizens of Israel and the Knesset by the throat by saying that he will prevent the decision on extending the closure," Levin said. "The Knesset must not be trampled on in this way by the government because of political disagreements within the government."