Israel’s watchdog blames Netanyahu for nation’s unprepared for further waves of COVID

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The Israeli government watchdog blamed former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the nation’s lack of preparedness for new waves of coronavirus infections after the first wave in early 2020, the Associated Press reported.

State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman’s report revealed “failures in the process of making and executing decisions,” adding that the government and its COVID-19 advisory cabinet failed to properly oversee the choices made by Netanyahu , the AP said. The former prime minister ended his 12-year term after Israel’s fourth consecutive parliamentary elections on March 23.

“This criticism is more relevant than ever and has raised important shortcomings,” wrote Englman, who was nominated by Netanyahu, in his report. “We are currently in a fourth wave and it is important to correct the shortcomings immediately.”

Israel broke its one-day record for new coronavirus cases on Tuesday. The new figure was nearly 11,000, according to the country’s health ministry.

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For more Associated Press reporting, see below.

In a new report, the Israeli government watchdog sharply criticizes former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the country’s lack of preparedness for new waves of coronavirus infections. Above, Netanyahu attends a special Knesset session to vote on a new government on June 13 Emmanuel Dunand / AFP via Getty Images

Englman’s report revealed a failure to enforce the security restrictions. He also said that Netanyahu’s administration did not properly address the impact of the pandemic on education, the economy and social protection until June, three months after it began.

Netanyahu had touted his government’s effective handling of the COVID-19 pandemic during the election campaign. In particular, he focused on his success in obtaining vaccines to make Israel one of the first countries to vaccinate its people.

Now leader of the opposition, Netanyahu has sharply criticized his successor Naftali Bennett for his handling of the fourth wave of viral infections, which rocked the country last month.

The Bennett government, made up of a wide range of parties united in their opposition to Netanyahu, took office on June 13.

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Englman’s report did not examine the actions of the new government, but said its lessons should be learned.

Israel is seeing an increase in coronavirus infections despite its massive vaccination campaign earlier this year. It has recorded 7,043 deaths from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. Nearly 60% of its population of 9.3 million have received two doses of the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine, and the country has already distributed more than 2 million booster shots in the past month.

The report also found major flaws in government policies regarding arrivals at Israel’s main international airport. He said sending 96% of people entering the country to home quarantine was very ineffective in stopping the arrival of new infections due to poor enforcement and disregard of rules.

A medical worker removes medication from a patient in the COVID-19 ward of Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center on Tuesday.Maya Alleruzzo / AP Photo

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