Netanyahu associate blames Israeli public for renewed virus outbreak

A close confidant of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says it’s the Israeli public’s fault for the renewed coronavirus outbreak, pushing back at growing criticism of the government’s handling of the pandemic.

“A large percentage of the public that didn’t listen to the instructions, didn’t wear a mask, celebrated in nightclubs and on roofs, at the beach and other public places is to blame for the situation,” Natan Eshel says in a statement to Israeli reporters.

He also lashes out at businesspeople who have been critical of the restrictions on their businesses and what they say is a lack of financial assistance.

“The government wanted to help but they didn’t listen to the rules. Now we’ll all pay the economic and personal price,” he says.

Eshel previously served as Netanyahu’s chief of staff before resigning in 2012 over allegations he used a surreptitiously placed camera to film under the skirt of a female colleague. He has continued to work with the premier and took a key role in coalition negotiations over the past year.