Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai's cultural reopening plan met with skepticism

• Author: HANNAH BROWN
• Published date: 17 January 2021
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

Huldai announced last month that he was creating a new party called the Israelis that would be running in the March national elections and that he would continue to serve as Tel Aviv's mayor even during the campaign.

Deputy Health Minister Yoav Kish said on Sunday morning, "While the State of Israel is facing a rise in morbidity and fighting for the lives of critically ill patients, Huldai continues with anarchy and populism. Huldai's pathetic attempts to garner votes on the backs of Tel Aviv residents could endanger human lives."

The Health Ministry released a statement saying, "Ron Huldai is practicing politics at the expense of public health. Ron Huldai's abandoning, which began with the distribution of vaccines against the decision of the priority committee consisting only of professionals, and continues to open places dangerously, is scandalous and should be a warning light for every citizen."

The statement refers to an incident in which the Tel Aviv Municipality, in conjunction with Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, gave nearly three thousand vaccinations to teachers earlier this month at a vaccination center in Rabin Square in Tel Aviv. Teaching staff had not yet been cleared to receive vaccinations, which were being given then to those over 60 and medical professionals, but the medical center and the municipality...