Netanyahu, Gantz appear to blame British variant for virus surge

Opening the meeting on the lockdown, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz both seemingly blame the British variant for the booming surge in virus cases in Israel.

“The mutation is out of control, and here, too, we see a rise,” Netanyahu says, according to leaks from the meeting to Hebrew media. “The hospitals are warning that we are entering the most dangerous wave since the start of the pandemic and that if we don’t act immediately, we’ll lose many more people.”

According to the Walla news site, Gantz also appears to pin the resurgence on the new strain. “There is no doubt that in light of the basic reproduction number of the mutation, we must take broad, general steps to reduce morbidity.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz attend a graduation ceremony for new Air Force pilots at the Hatzerim air base near Beersheba, June 25, 2020. (Ariel Schalit/ Pool/AFP)