Published: 8 September 2020
Last updated: 4 March 2024
As coronavirus cases rise, Arab mayors welcome new restrictions (Times of Israel)
Following political pressure from ultra-Orthodox mayors Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to impose nightly curfews on some 40 cities with high infection numbers, instead of the previously planned full lockdown of a smaller number of towns. Schools would close entirely for the duration of the measures.
The majority of cities expected to face the new restrictions are either Arab or ultra-Orthodox. Arab Israeli officials have broadly supported partial lockdowns in their cities and towns. From Tira to Umm al-Fahm, many Arab Israeli mayors said they would welcome new restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus.
Umm al-Fahm has 410 active cases, 268 of which were detected in the past week. The municipality opened a coronavirus testing station and prepared a “war room” to fight the spiralling infections, a city official told The Times of Israel.
“The numbers speak for themselves. There is no escaping a lockdown. It hurts me to say, but it’s the truth,” Umm al-Fahm Mayor Samir Mahameed told the Kan public broadcaster on Sunday morning.
Palestinian school year opens amid worsening pandemic in West Bank (Times of Israel)
Number of cases continues to climb, but PA premier Shtayyeh tells concerned parents that school might be ‘safer than home’
Photo: Coronavirus czar Ronni Gamzu (front left) speaks at a meeting with local Arab leaders in Daliat el-Carmel, September 5 (Screen grab/Kan)
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