Protests Grow in Israel Over Economic Impact of Coronavirus Restrictions

Thousands of small business owners, self-employed workers and furloughed employees for a fourth Saturday night in a row converged on Tel Aviv’s iconic Rabin Square to protest a perceived lack of government support amid ongoing economic hardship caused by the coronavirus pandemic. It comes as the Committee of Local Arab Authorities announced a general strike beginning on Tuesday. The body claims that the state’s failure to allocate sufficient resources to Arab-Israeli communities has contributed to their relatively high rates of infection. Public anger has grown in recent days even as restrictions on movement have been eased and many shops have been permitted to reopen. While strict social distancing regulations remain in place, Israeli ministers on Sunday were slated to discuss lifting additional prohibitions, including a longstanding ban on individuals venturing farther than 100 meters from their homes for nonessential purposes. It is also believed that the cabinet is eyeing the reopening in mid-May of malls, outdoor markets, museums, libraries and gyms. Health officials in Israel have confirmed 16,193 cases of COVID-19 and 230 resulting deaths. However, the rate of new diagnoses has dropped dramatically over the past week.