Skip to main content

As omicron spreads, Israelis turn against Bennett

Many Israelis feel that the government and Prime Minister Naftali Bennett have lost control over battling the spread of the coronavirus omicron variant.

Bennett
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speaks during a visit to Sheba hospital near Tel Aviv, which administered fourth vaccines to 154 of its staff a week earlier as part of a study, on Jan. 4, 2022. — OHAD ZWEIGENBERG/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The press conference held by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Tuesday afternoon took place against an overwhelming feeling among Israelis that the government had lost control of the omicron variant of the coronavirus. There is no way of knowing how many people have been infected each day because the testing network simply cannot keep up. Nevertheless, experts estimate that about 100,000 people were tested in the last day alone.

In his press conference, Bennett informed the public about something it already knew: Israel is being overwhelmed by a new wave of infection, unlike anything ever seen before. Millions are expected to be infected with the omicron variant in the next few weeks. He promised economic assistance to be people who were affected, and emphasized that unlike the previous government, he would not enforce a closure.

Related Topics

Subscribe for unlimited access

All news, events, memos, reports, and analysis, and access all 10 of our newsletters. Learn more

$14 monthly or $100 annually ($8.33/month)
OR

Continue reading this article for free

All news, events, memos, reports, and analysis, and access all 10 of our newsletters. Learn more.

By signing up, you agree to Al-Monitor’s Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. Already have an account? Log in