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Coronavirus lockdown targets Israeli synagogues but not protests

Religious people in Israel find it hard to understand why political demonstrations will be authorized under coronavirus restrictions while public prayer in synagogues will be prevented.
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The shouts that Minister for Cyber Affairs David Amsalem directed Sept. 13 at Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit were highly unusual even for Israel’s deeply divided “unity” government.

Tension was in the air when the government convened for its weekly session, after canceling the previous two scheduled meetings, to discuss a proposed nationwide lockdown in response to the dramatic uptick in COVID-19 cases that is to begin Sept. 18. Also on the agenda were the protests the night before by thousands of Israelis outside the prime minister’s residence on Jerusalem’s Balfour Street calling for Benjamin Netanyahu’s resignation.

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