High-stakes cabinet meeting on lockdown exit kicks off

The coronavirus cabinet, a forum of ministers dealing with the pandemic, has begun a key meeting at which they are expected to hash out plans for the country to begin exiting the lockdown.

At issue is a Health Ministry plan for a gradual, several-month exit based on epidemiological benchmarks, as well as plans to reopen preschools and some businesses, lift a restriction on travel and plan for what to do with high-infection zones. Some ministers are pushing for a swifter opening than the Health Ministry recommends, noting the economic damage and other ill effects of the nationwide closure.

Barak Ravid of Walla news tweets that according to sources, the meeting got off to a less than stellar start, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz fighting over whether to start with the Health Ministry plan or the possible opening of preschools and small businesses that don’t have in-person customers.