Yuli Edelstein: It’s in our interest not our obligation to get Palestinians jabs
Israel's health minister made his comments during the Andrew Marr show
Israel’s health minister has insisted it’s not not the country’s legal obligation to provide vaccines to Palestine – but that it is in its interests to do so.
Speaking to The Andrew Marr Show, Yuli Edelstein said: “As far as vaccination is concerned I think it is Israel’s obligation first and foremost to its citizens – they pay taxes for that, don’t they?”
“But having said that I do remember that it is our interest – not our legal obligation but our interest – to make sure Palestinians get the vaccine, that we don’t have Covid-19 spreading.
“If it is the responsibility of the Israeli health ministry to take care of the Palestinians, what exactly is the responsibility of the Palestinian health minister – to take care of the dolphins in the Mediterranean?”
This comes amid criticism from UK MPs and left-wing Jewish groups around the world, calling for Israel to vaccinate Palestinians – despite the Palestinian Authority saying it is seeking vaccine doses from other sources.
Read more
- OPINION: Israel should sit back and watch the sulking
- Israeli data throws UK vaccine plans off course
- Chief scientific adviser downplays concerns raised in Israel about vaccine
In an interview with Andrew Marr, the minister also spoke about Israel’s vaccination programme, and the data being collected from the population.
This comes after Israeli vaccine data appeared to show much less immunity against coronavirus after one dose, which could radically alter Britain’s policy of delaying the second shot so more people can have the first.
On Friday, the UK’s chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance downplayed concerns raised in Israel that a single dose of the Pfizer vaccine may not be as effective as previously thought.
Edelstein said Israel is “collecting every piece of information” from its vaccination programme after a study suggested a first dose gave just 30% protection from coronavirus.
“We are just at the beginning of the (vaccination) campaign, we do see cases of people that after getting the first dose still get sick with the coronavirus.
“At the same time there are some encouraging signs of less severe diseases, less people hospitalised after the first dose, so at this stage it’s very difficult to say.”
He continued: “We really hope that we will have better information in the near future.”
He added: “We are collecting every piece of information, we are hoping to be able to say very soon that the number of those hospitalised has gone down.”
Edelstein said Israel had decided to stick to the instructions given by Pfizer on how soon to give the second dose after the first, but added there had been “differences of opinion” on the matter within the health ministry.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
