Ultra-Orthodox threaten unity government over coronavirus measures

Sunday’s headlines in the ultra-Orthodox Yated Neeman newspaper looked like they could have been lifted from Yedioth Ahronoth or Haaretz, papers known for being critical of the government. They came as a surprise, as for years the paper has been identified with the group most loyal to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “The People v. the Government” and “Economic Rage in the Streets,” it read, completed with quotes from anti-Netanyahu demonstrators.

The paper reflects the views of the Lithuanian ultra-Orthodox leadership in Israel, and it is angry. Attacks on the government began a week earlier, when Knesset member Moshe Gafni, political leader of the Lithuanian ultra-Orthodox faction, said that if the government decides to shut down the ultra-Orthodox yeshivas, he would recommend that his party’s rabbinical leadership end its partnership with the government.

Gafni was giving voice to the outrage in the ultra-Orthodox community over what it sees as the excessive enforcement of rules to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. They have been complaining vociferously about it, even though the non-ultra-Orthodox educational institutions were also shut down, along with day camps and summer camps. In fact, yeshivas are the only educational facilities still open. In the early days of the pandemic, rabbis' decision to ignore the health directives lead to the virus spreading widely among the ultra-Orthodox.

Now, the Health Ministry is trying to prevent another outbreak. Nevertheless, students at the Beit Matityahu yeshiva in Bnei Brak told ultra-Orthodox journalist Eli Bitan that the director of their yeshiva would not allow them to be tested for the virus, even if they show symptoms of the disease. The results were inevitable, and over 200 students were infected with the virus. In response, the police raided the building, closed the street and quarantined the students.