Directors of Israel's public hospitals have appealed to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to intervene in the ongoing budgetary crisis that has forced hospitals to operate according to a restricted "weekend" format. Six months ago, the Treasury signed a commitment to pay 300 million shekels to the hospitals in order to cover their basic needs, but the funds have yet to be transferred and now the Finance Ministry is claiming that it cannot transfer the funds directly in any case.
"Seven public hospitals are now operating according on an emergency footing at the height of the coronavirus epidemic, due to the government having reneged on its agreement," the directors said in a statement.
"Meanwhile, all Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz cares about is campaigning against us in the media. Prime Minister Bennett must now intervene and protect the hospitals from totally collapsing."