From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, May 28, 2024
State comptroller slams Netanyahu for making Pfizer COVID vax deal without consulting cabinet
The state comptroller issues a report on the country’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis, criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for making major decisions without the approval of his coronavirus cabinet.
State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman says that Netanyahu made a key deal with the Pfizer company to give it exclusivity over providing COVID vaccines to Israel through March 2021, and did not update or consult the COVID cabinet. While appreciating the time sensitive and critical nature of the move, Englman says it should not have been made by a single figure.
He also criticizes similar measures taken by then-prime minister Naftali Bennett, who also made major COVID-related decisions without consulting his COVID cabinet.
In addition, the state comptroller issues a second report slamming the government for failing to make any progress toward lowering the number of traffic deaths each year.
