26 Feb 2021 / 03:00 H.
(Adds Gantz confirmation)
By Stephen Farrell and Rami Ayyub
JERUSALEM, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Israel has frozen its programme to send COVID-19 vaccines abroad to buy international goodwill, Defence Minister Benny Gantz said on Thursday, after Israeli news reports said the initiative had come under legal scrutiny.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has come under fire for donating COVID-19 vaccines to foreign allies, while Palestinians complained that, as an occupying power, Israel should be supplying more to them.
Israeli public broadcaster Kan, which earlier this week reported that Israel would send small shipments to 19 countries, said the attorney general was seeking clarification about the programme.