Prime Minister Naftali Bennett voiced harsh criticism of Israelis who refuse to get vaccinated for COVID in a speech Thursday after the Coronavirus Cabinet approved reinstating the so-called "green pass" in an attempt to curb the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant in Israel.
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"I respect different opinions, but there is a limit when it comes to human life," Bennett said in a televised speech. "We would like Israel to be an open and safe country. And for that to happen, every Israeli who is eligible to get inoculated, must do so."
Every Israeli over the age of 12 is currently eligible to get vaccinated.
"The Israeli government is investing billions in order to supply vaccines all over the country," Bennett continued. "And still, about a million Israelis simply refuse to get vaccinated. Anti-vaxxers are putting their health at risk, and the health of those around them. They impede the freedom of all Israelis, endangering our work, our children's studies and our freedom to celebrate the upcoming holidays with family.
"If these 1 million Israelis continue to refuse to get vaccinated, it will force the other 8 million to go into lockdown," Bennett warned.
To that end, the prime minister explained, the government has decided to reinstate the "green pass" system, as part of which "unvaccinated Israelis will not be able to enter entertainment venues and events with more than 100 participants, indoors or outdoors."
Bennett explained that unvaccinated Israelis would only be able to enter these venues if they presented proof of a negative COVID test, which they would have to pay for.
"There is no reason for taxpayers who fulfilled their civil duty to get immunized to fund COVID tests for those who refuse to get vaccinated," he said.
Also on Thursday, the Health Ministry released new data indicating that the COVID vaccine was 91% effective at preventing the development of serious cases in vaccinated individuals who contract the virus, but only 39% effective at preventing transmission of the virus.
The latest figures are based on cases logged from June 20 to July 17, when the Delta variant spread throughout Israel.
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The ministry also said that among Israelis who were vaccinated in January 2021, the vaccine was 16% effective against contracting the virus, compared to a 44% efficacy rate among Israelis who were vaccinated in February, 67% of those who received their jabs in March, and 75% of those who were vaccinated in April.
According to data, 1,848,568 Israelis received both doses of the Pfizer vaccine in January. Of those, 5,770 have contracted the virus and 495 were hospitalized with cases of COVID-19, of whom 334 developed serious cases. A total of 123 patients who had been fully vaccinated in January have died of COVID-19.
The vaccine's effecacy in preventing serious cases of COVID-19 for those vaccinated in January remains 86%, according to the figures, only slightly lower than those vaccinated in the following months.
i24NEWS contributed to this report
