Lockdown imposed in Ramle
Lockdown imposed in RamleYossi Aloni/Flash90

Israel’s Coronavirus Cabinet will convene Tuesday afternoon to consider a proposal to significantly tighten the restrictions of the ongoing lockdown, curtailing economic activity and ensuring stricter enforcement of rules at protests and synagogues.

The plan, which was originally scheduled to be voted on Monday, has already divided the Coronavirus Cabinet, with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Health Minister Yuli Edelstein (Likud) championing the intensified lockdown, while Coronavirus Czar Prof. Ronni Gamzu and Finance Minister Yisrael Katz (Likud) opposed to the changes.

The proposed stricter closure would mirror Israel’s first lockdown, in place during the spring.

If adopted, the plan would dramatically reduce business operations in the private sector, reducing private sector activity to 30% or less.

In addition, the plan calls for even greater limits on gatherings.

The plan would, if passed, likely go into effect only after the upcoming Yom Kippur holiday.