“Beyond being illegal, this move is also impeding national efforts to battle the coronavirus.”
By GIL HOFFMANAn Israeli flag is seen next to the gate of the Megiddo Prison in northern Israel July 24, 2018. Picture taken July 24, 2018. (photo credit: REUTERS/AMIR COHEN)
Defense Minister and acting Justice Minister Benny Gantz sent an urgent appeal to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, urging him to instruct Public Security Minister Amir Ohana to enable the vaccination of seniors in prison facilities.Ohana has declined to so until now, even though Deputy Attorney-General Amit Marari ruled that the public security minister did not have the authority to prevent the shots.“It is alarming that the public security minister is choosing to ignore the guidelines outlined by the Health Ministry and the attorney-general while doing damage to public health,” Gantz said. “Beyond being illegal, this move is also impeding national efforts to battle the coronavirus.”Yair Fink, chairman of the Darkenu advocacy group, sent a letter to Ohana that said his rejection of Marari’s ruling harmed Israeli democracy and the rule of law.Ohana said he did not believe it was right to prioritize immunizing terrorists serving multiple life sentences. He cited Eli Pimstein, who received a life sentence for the murder of his baby daughter, Hodaya Kedem-Pimstein, who he buried in the forest.In interviews, Ohana said the decision was entirely his and not that of unelected officials in the Attorney-General’s Office.
