Israel closes off Jerusalem's ultra-Orthodox areas to stem coronavirus spread

 

Israeli police check a driver in a car on a roadblock in a main road in Jerusalem as they try to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from the densely populated neighborhoods where the infection rate is high, April 12, 2020 REUTERS/ Ammar Awad

 

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel locked down mainly ultra-Orthodox Jewish areas of Jerusalem on Sunday to try to contain the spread of the coronavirus from the densely populated neighbourhoods where the infection rate is high.

 

The entry and exit restrictions, enforced by police roadblocks, were imposed on the same day that a government order for the wearing of masks in public went into effect throughout the country.

 

Residents of the restricted neighbourhoods in Jerusalem can still shop close to home for essentials. Synagogues have been closed to try to stem infections, as they have been across the country.

 

The neighbourhoods are home to large families living in close quarters. Compliance with social-distancing guidelines has been spotty.

 

Bnei Brak, an ultra-Orthodox town of 200,000 near Tel Aviv, was declared a restricted zone on April 2 and police have limited access to the area.

 

Israel locked down mainly ultra-Orthodox Jewish areas of Jerusalem on Sunday to try to contain the spread of the coronavirus from the densely populated neighbourhoods where the infection rate is high. Emer McCarthy reports.

 

Israel has reported 10,878 confirmed coronavirus cases and 103 deaths. Palestinian officials listed 268 cases in the occupied West Bank and in the Gaza Strip, with two fatalities.

 

In the West Bank, Palestinian Finance Minister Shukri Bishara said the Palestinian Authority (PA) asked Israel to help it deal with the economic hardship caused by the coronavirus crisis.

 

Israel usually collects some 700 million shekels ($195 million) a month, in exchange for a 3% commission in tax revenues for the PA from imports that arrive via Israeli ports. But the PA expects such revenues to decline by more than 50% due to reduced trade during the coronavirus crisis.

 

Bishara said he had requested Israel loan the PA money as required to ensure the handovers amount to at least 500 million shekels ($140 million) a month. Any loans would be repaid to Israel out of future tax revenues, possibly post-crisis.

 

Were Israel to agree, "we can add another 200 million shekels ($56 million) monthly aid from donor countries, in addition to 100 million shekels ($28 million) from local revenues," Bishara told reporters via a video link.

 

"That would make us 200 million shekels short (of normal figure), a sum we can make up for through taking (bank) loans," he said. "That should keep us going that way for six months."

 

A spokeswoman for Israel's Finance Ministry declined to respond in detail, saying: "We will not comment before a deal is signed". But she said Israel had already stated its willingness to loan the PA money to assist in the anti-coronavirus efforts.

 

(Reporting by Jeffrey Heller, Ali Sawafta and Nidal al-Mughrabi; Writing by Jeffrey Heller; Editing by Giles Elgood and Frances Kerry)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-04-13

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3 hours ago, webfact said:

The neighbourhoods are home to large families living in close quarters. Compliance with social-distancing guidelines has been spotty.

The masks won't fit well on these long beards anyway . The ultra orthodox are a ' high risk ' community and they know that .

If they do not want to comply with the new rules of ' social distancing ' , they just need to face the consequences ...

 

49 minutes ago, nobodysfriend said:

The masks won't fit well on these long beards anyway . The ultra orthodox are a ' high risk ' community and they know that .

If they do not want to comply with the new rules of ' social distancing ' , they just need to face the consequences ...

 

Maybe they could sew a football sock to the bottom of the mask.hey presto a Kosher covid mask!

I truly believe God will protect them.

Just now, Surelynot said:

I truly believe God will protect them.

Sure, first he/she is dishing it out, and now protecting.

God will not be pleased. One way or another.

6 hours ago, Surelynot said:

I truly believe God will protect them.

 

           Millions of religious people world wide, are brought together,  by the virus, and fear of death.

           Nuclear war, those fear days are over ..

 

Edited April 13, 20206 yr by elliss

Re-creating the ghettos .......

Okay, guys, this virus thing is getting serious now.

I LOATHE religious idiots, but I support the Orthodox Jews of Israel. This has nothing to do with safety and everything to do with discrimination against REAL Jews. "Reform Jews" are a joke and deserve international scorn.

On 4/27/2020 at 6:25 AM, KhunFred said:

I LOATHE religious idiots, but I support the Orthodox Jews of Israel. This has nothing to do with safety and everything to do with discrimination against REAL Jews. "Reform Jews" are a joke and deserve international scorn.

You loathe religious idiots, yet condemn discrimination against them???