Rivlin: No one working to eliminate plague of despair and isolation

Visiting Shamir Medical Center south of Tel Aviv, President Reuven Rivlin says coronavirus rule violations should be enforced equally across Israeli society.

“No violation of the lockdown is legitimate, for any group or any person,” Rivlin says.

But, he adds, “even violation of the lockdown rules by many does not make it okay to foment hatred against entire populations.” The ultra-Orthodox community has faced intense criticism for many such violations.

“Any violation… is used cynically for political purposes and becomes propaganda.”

He further says: “I am afraid no one is working to eliminate the plague of despair and isolation.”

He calls on Israel’s leadership: “Alongside your demands of us to observe the rules as much as is required, we expect you to outline a horizon that will show us the way back to normalcy, and to a shared life after the pandemic.”