Civil Rebellion and Lack of Faith in the Health Ministry and Government
A government is elected (?) by the People, to serve and protect the People, not to cause economic distress, and unjust policies. Seems this is not being done to the satisfaction of the People.
Civil rebellion: Stores across Israel to open against coronavirus rules
Government approves in principle the decision to increase fines on those who operate against the law.
The announcements began on Saturday night with the “I Am Shulman” movement, which fights on behalf of self-employed people and small and medium businesses, with a video on Facebook stating that it was calling on street-side businesses to open on Monday at 9 a.m., despite regulations. “Go out and earn a living!” said one of the members of the movement in the video.
“The government has lost it,” added the member, asking why cosmetic services and schools were allowed to open while street-side stores were not, despite the possible risks presented by reopening schools.
The “I Am Shulman” movement will provide legal services to help businesses that decide to reopen. The member in the video stated that Haim Bibas, mayor of Modi’in-Maccabim-Reut, and chairman of the Federation of Local Authorities in Israel, promised him that he and the local authorities were providing their full support behind the decision to reopen businesses.
“We are giving the government 24 hours to think about it and to change their delusional decision,” said the movement in an ultimatum, saying that the government had until Monday to provide a logical and fair plan.
The BIG shopping center group followed the move by announcing on Sunday morning that it will open its open-air centers in green cities on Monday and will begin demanding full rent and fees from businesses located in the centers.
IN A LETTER to businesses in BIG centers, BIG group CEO Hay Galis stressed on Sunday that while businesses received support and compensation from the government and unpaid leave, the BIG group did not receive the same support and did not send workers on unpaid leave. The group also forgave rent and management fees.
“We did not receive a single shekel for this period, neither from the state nor from you,” wrote Galis, adding that the group had tried, and failed, to convince business owners to protest against the conduct and decisions of the government.
“The ability to open business is in your hands, from now the results are also passed onto your shoulders. Carry it and succeed,” wrote the CEO. “Now it’s your turn. The honorable government is playing with us, playing with you, asking for a few more days, and a few more days, because of the hysteria and disconnection of the Health Ministry and the prime minister’s inability or unwillingness to make a decision.”
Galis added that despite claims that street-side shops are safer than shopping centers, it is “proven” that in large shopping centers regulations are followed much more than in such shops.
“The store area is larger and therefore there is a possibility to maintain the rules of social distance. Opening only some of the retail space will certainly cause a crowding of people, who could have been better dispersed across more stores and retail space, if these were available to all,” stressed Galis.
“This time we too are tired – tired of taking responsibility time and time again and finding ourselves attacking alone. We are tired of the feeling that we are turning from fair people into suckers. We have run out of the desire and patience to support everyone instead of the government (supporting them),” added the CEO.
After the announcement by BIG, Zim Urban Life shopping centers announced that they, too, would open open-air centers on Monday, including in red cities, according to Channel 12 news. The centers are planning to open in locations such as Beit She’an, Arad, Netivot, Umm al-Fahm, Yarka, Tira and Tayibe, among others.
FINANCE MINISTER Israel Katz called on Sunday for the government to allow stores to reopen on Tuesday.
“The insistence of the Health Ministry is unnecessary and lacks a factual basis, and leads to anarchy and the lack of supervision, which will only increase infection rates,” tweeted Katz.
In response to the calls to reopen, Health Minister Yuli Edelstein warned that those who are calling to “recklessly” open the economy, “are leading us with open eyes toward another lockdown and an economic, social and health disaster.”
“I understand the plight of store owners. It is our duty to help them and provide them with an economic safety net, to really care – not just in statements,” said Edelstein. “At the same time keep in mind that a quick opening now means another closure later. Complacency will eventually lead to a death sentence for many businesses.”
Edelstein pointed to the lockdowns and spikes in infection rates being reported in Europe and other locations around the world, saying that Israel needs to “understand that the decisions to open the economy must not be a populist competition that could lead to the destruction of the economy instead of its rehabilitation.”
The Health Ministry and coronavirus commissioner Prof. Ronni Gamzu have pushing since last month to increase fines.
The proposed increases are as follows: Opening a business illegally: NIS 5,000 to NIS 10,000; holding a wedding or similar event against regulations: NIS 5,000 to NIS 20,000; and opening an educational institution against the law: NIS 5,000 to NIS 20,000.
The increase on educational institutions originally proposed by the ministry was to NIS 25,000. Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) lawmakers pushed back, saying that such an increase was unacceptable when the infection rate was declining.
“It’s crazy that we’re opening up in a dramatic way without raising fines,” senior Health Ministry officials were quoted as saying by Israeli media over the weekend. “It’s critical. Five-thousand shekels does not deter anyone.”
Hundreds if not thousands of haredi schools have opening illegally since the High Holy Days.
On Sunday, grades one through four opened classes, one-on-one activities and services (such as driving lessons or personal training) and alternative medical treatments were permitted to resume and salons and bed and breakfasts were allowed to reopen.
Last Thursday, the Association of Commercial, Fashion and Catering Chains warned it would no longer be able to prevent business owners from breaking Health Ministry regulations and reopening, and had ended discussions with the government.
“After our inquiries fell on deaf ears, we announce the cessation of discussions with the government,” said the association, according to Globes. “The government continues to pursue a policy leading to the destruction of businesses, and we do not want to be the factor responsible for the loss of livelihood of business owners. Starting Sunday, everyone will have to make the best decision for themselves, their employees and their family.”
Small business owners took to the streets on Thursday as the cabinet convened, begging the government to allow them to operate. However, ultimately, the cabinet decided to push off opening street shops another week, until November 8, unless there was a significant drop in infection.
About 400 retail and fashion chains around Israel announced last week that they would open next week on Sunday, November 8, even if Health Ministry regulations continue to forbid their opening. The stores only plan to open in open-air centers in green areas and follow Purple Ribbon regulations.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tried to calm business owners in a video message shared Friday: “To all of my friends, the merchants, I know how difficult it is. I request that you cooperate for another few days. We have promised to open next Sunday, maybe earlier if morbidity goes down, and this is the main problem.
SHOW THE PEOPLE THE DATA FOR ISRAEL, THE TOTAL DEATHS FOR 2020 COMPARED TO 1919 ON A MONTH TO MONTH BASIS
“Morbidity is leaping forward around the world,” the prime minister said. “With joint forces we succeeded in lowering it. We do not want it to go up again – and then we would need to re-impose the restrictions. I will help you in every way. We have helped you economically; we will help you with even more measures.”
LOCKDOWNS ONLY REPRESS INFECTION, NOT ELIMINATE THE ILLNESS
ONLY THE ELDERLY AND COMPROMISED NEED STAY OUT OF CROWDS
EVERYONE ELSE NEED TO LIVE NORMALY
SOCIETY NEEDS TO GROW
PEOPLE NEED TO LIVE