Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel s US correspondent based in New York
A Palestinian resident of East Jerusalem s Beit Hanina neighborhood gets vaccinated against the coronavirus at a Clalit Health Services clinic there, on January 12, 2021. (Ahmad Gharabli/AFP)
NEW YORK A growing number of Democrats have been speaking out against Israel for not vaccinating Palestinians in the West Bank.
On Sunday, newly elected New York Congressman Jamaal Bowman joined senior House Rep. Joaquin Castro, freshman Rep. Marie Newman, former vice presidential candidate Sen. Tim Kaine, and Rep. Rashida Tlaib in voicing his concern over the matter.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “must ensure that both Israelis and Palestinians have access to the Covid vaccine,” tweeted Bowman, who has joined the “squad” group of progressive lawmakers, while also identifying as pro-Israel and anti-BDS.
The Health Ministry on Monday said the tally of coronavirus patients currently connected to ventilators is at an all-time high, while 68 people passed away from the coronavirus in the last day - the deadliest day since the outbreak. 1,878 patients are currently hospitalized with the illness, of whom 1,140 are listed
Israel halts all air traffic to and from the country due to COVID-19
The Israeli Cabinet, on January 24, 2021 , approved the proposal of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Health Minister Yuli Edelstein and Transportation Minister Miri Regev to halt flights to and from Israel:
1. A ban on incoming planes to Israel except for cargo flights, firefighting flights and flights for emergency medical evacuation
2. A temporary restriction on permits for operating Israeli airlines
3. A reduction in exceptions for departure by air to outside Israel so as to include the following cases only: Medical treatment, judicial proceedings to which the person is a party or must participate in, or the funeral of a close relative.