Netanyahu and Gantz at Cabinet meeting
Netanyahu and Gantz at Cabinet meetingMarc Israel Sellem/POOL

A senior Likud official on Tuesday evening launched a scathing attack on Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz and the leaders of the Blue and White party, accusing them of imposing difficulties on the fight against the coronavirus.

According to the official, "Netanyahu is angry with Benny Gantz and Blue and White who, for political reasons, are failing to take the necessary steps to contain the disease and save lives."

"The irresponsibility of Blue and White inevitably leads to a full lockdown and unnecessary economic prices. Gantz today opposed any move to curb the spread of the coronavirus that could prevent the need for a general lockdown later on," the senior official added.

"Gantz and Blue and White must immediately stop the political game that endangers the lives of the citizens of Israel," he added.

"Since the unity government requires consensual decisions between the Likud and Blue and White, they torpedo any decision that does not match their populist considerations," the source charged.

A senior Blue and White party official responded to the Prime Minister's remarks, saying that "instead of removing responsibility for the management of the coronavirus crisis, Netanyahu should let the IDF win and allow the Ministry of Defense to take control of the battle on the ground. This is not a time for politics, nor for any battle that is not about rehabilitating the economy, health and society. It is better to concentrate on transferring the money to the accounts of the self-employed. There are those who look after them and there are those who run away from responsibility.”

According to data published by the Ministry of Health on Tuesday night, 42,360 people have been diagnosed with the virus in Israel.

To date, 371 people have died from the virus in Israel, four of them in the last day. 19,665 people have recovered from coronavirus to date while 22,324 people are defined as active cases as of 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday.

Of the active patients, 529 people are hospitalized, while 21,795 patients are in home care or in isolation in one of the coronavirus hotels.