Tel-Chai Nation

Lest we forget that the most extreme of Haredi isolationists are proving as irresponsible as the aforementioned Arab residents of eastern Jerusalem, as this Israel Hayom report notes:

Cities listed "red" under the Health Ministry's new traffic light system included Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, Modi'in Illit, Betar Illit, Ilut, Ein Naqquba, Sha'ab, Kafr Bara, Lapid and Ilbun.

On Sunday morning Israel's coronavirus coordinator Professor Ronni Gamzu was interviewed by Kol Barama radio and hinted that some rabbis were not cooperating with government health directives.

"In Modi'in Illit the virus is still spreading. Unlike other Haredi cities, where there is a high rate of infection, but the spread has stopped. The percentage of positive tests is 25-305, which means that people aren't being tested. Rabbis and city leaders need to cooperate with the authorities," Gamzu said.

Touching on the sensitive issue of synagogue activity, Gamzu said, "Synagogues are a big challenge. Right now, there is no solution. We have four weeks to create a framework that will enable people to pray safely during the Days of Awe. I want to see more testing in the Haredi public.

"Anyone who is showing symptoms but does not get tested infects others. I am very unhappy with what is happening the Haredi sector, and I'm angry when I see apathy and failure to follow instructions. On the other hand, I don't want to punish [them] with a full closure, I want to give them a chance," Gamzu said.

I can understand if he's not happy with the notion he'd have to call for a lockdown in their neighborhoods, but, if it's extremists like Satmar and Neturei Karta who're the main culprits, they're practically asking for some punishment for recklessly endangering everyone with infections. In the meantime, they should do their best to make sure the Haredi public not only gets tested, but starts taking medicines to deal with the illness.

Labels: communications, haredi corruption, Israel, Jerusalem, Moonbattery