Israel Begins Vaccinating Palestinian Workers

Israel this week launched its campaign to vaccinate Palestinian workers who hold a valid license to work in Israel and the Jewish communities across Judea and Samaria. The operation is being conducted by the Ministry of Health and the Unit for the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), the Land Crossings Authority in the Ministry of Defense, the Central Command, and Magen David Adom.

The vaccination stations that have been set up at the various crossings in Judea and Samaria began operating on Monday morning and will be manned by Magen David Adom and Israeli military medics.

Over the course of the next two weeks, every worker who wishes to do so can be vaccinated at one of these stations in coordination with his employer and the relevant government authorities.

The Head of the Operational Department of COGAT, Colonel Eyal Zevi: “Today, we’re starting the vaccination campaign for Palestinian workers in Israel and in the Jewish communities across Judea and Samaria. The campaign seeks to maintain public health and the functioning of the economy. The coronavirus knows no geographical borders, and therefore the vaccination of the Palestinian workers is a common interest for both parties.”

COGAT head Maj.-Gen. Kamil Abu Rukun explained: “Today we opened the vaccination campaign for Palestinian workers who work in Israel, and I commend all those involved for doing so. It is in our common health and economic interest, as we live in a single epidemiological region, and we all need to take part in the effort to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the region while preserving public health and the functioning of the economy. That is the only way that we can emerge victorious over the coronavirus and get back to our normal daily lives.”

See related:

• Israel’s Vaccination Campaign and Loving the Stranger
• Of Vaccines, the Temple Mount and Palestinian Intransigence