Israel fines thousands of coronavirus lockdown breakers

Police fine thousands for violating country’s restrictions as the Jewish High Holy Days arrive.

A protester is detained during an demonstration outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem. Picture: AFP

Most Israelis stayed indoors to celebrate Rosh Hashana in small groups, rather than the usually large gatherings that mark the Jewish New Year holiday, as the police fined thousands of people for violating a second nationwide lockdown aimed at containing a fresh coronavirus outbreak.

A 7000-strong police force fanned out across the country and issued 2800 penalties over the weekend, most for people leaving their homes for non-permitted reasons. Authorities also handed 30 fines to businesses that opened in violation of the lockdown.

Israel on Friday became the first developed country to impose a second lockdown to rein in a surge in coronavirus infections that has devastated the economy.

The restrictions come as Israel enters the high-holiday season — a period of travel and social gatherings that officials fear could further spread the virus that causes COVID-19. The lockdown is expected to last through the religious holidays of Yom Kippur and Sukkot, which ends on October 9. It aims to halt one of the worst daily infection rates per capita in the world — roughly 5000 cases a day last week.

Streets across Israel on Saturday and Sunday were nearly empty of cars, with cyclists and joggers taking advantage of the lack of traffic. Synagogues limited the size of congregations to 10 people, or spread out multiples of 10 in larger buildings, to comply with regulations.

Worshippers gathered at the walls of the sanctuaries to listen to the services and the blowing of the ram’s horn, or shofar, a ritual during the Jewish New Year.

Israelis on social media joked that this year’s Rosh Hashana holiday — which often involves trips to family homes, parks and outdoor barbecues — felt similar to Yom Kippur, a solemn holiday when Jews are expected to fast and atone for their sins, during which roads in Israel are kept largely empty.

“What time does the fast begin?” quipped Israeli comedian Nadav Abukasis on Twitter.

Israel’s weeks-long closure is proving a challenge for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has faced criticism for his handling of the crisis. His political support depends on religious groups frustrated at their inability to celebrate the holiday season and a business community hurting from the lockdowns’ economic costs.

The country already is in recession. The Bank of Israel in late August estimated unemployment at 12 per cent, after a peak at roughly 27 per cent in May following two months of business closures because of the country’s first wave of infections.

While the number of new cases has been rising steadily across ­Europe for more than six weeks, Israel’s response is one of the most draconian of those countries fighting second waves of the virus.

Britain, France and other nations have imposed narrower curbs, limiting sizes of gatherings and threatening fines, hoping citizens will work to limit interaction to curb infections.

As part of the new shutdown, Israelis are permitted to roam as far as 500m from their homes, though they can travel further for necessary reasons such as shopping for food, going to a pharmacy or a doctor, or for exercise.

Before the Rosh Hashana holiday, many Israelis questioned whether people would abide by the new lockdown. But police reports over the weekend showed most of the country was compliant. That could change in the coming days.

Israeli Restaurant Association chief executive Tomer Moore said many restaurants can’t afford to close during the latest lockdown, so many owners plan to serve customers despite possibly receiving hefty fines. “Compliance is a luxury,” Mr Moore said.

Liar Hargil, 52, a restaurant and bar owner in Tel Aviv, said he decided to throw his annual Rosh Hashana meal for customers on Thursday — a day earlier than the start of the holiday — to avoid the lockdown. But he added that he planned to reassess the situation as the closure continued and could open his business during the lockdown to make sure that he can pay employees and keep his business afloat. “In a week we’ll see,” he said.

As of Sunday, Israel had recorded a total of 187,902 coronavirus cases and 1256 deaths in a population of nearly nine million.

The Wall Street Journal