Analysis of Israel’s Management of the COVID-19 Crisis: State Comptroller’s Report
The State Comptroller, Mateniho Engelman, published a comprehensive report today scrutinizing the management of the COVID-19 crisis under the 35th and 36th Israeli governments, led by former Prime Ministers Benjamin Netanyahu and Naftali Bennett. The report delves into the strategic decisions taken during the pandemic, highlighting inefficiencies and unauthorized decision-making processes.
Netanyahu's Exclusive Deal with Pfizer
The report categorically points out that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a unilateral decision to grant Pfizer exclusivity on the supply of COVID-19 vaccines without consulting the Corona Cabinet, which was the official body authorized to manage the crisis. Despite the successful outcome in curbing serious illnesses and reducing mortality rates among Israelis, the decision bypassed necessary governmental and cabinet protocols. The State Comptroller emphasized the risk to public health involved in such a critical decision made without the Corona Cabinet's involvement.
Critique of Crisis Management Under Bennett Administration
In examining the tenure of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, the report found similar lapses where significant decisions were not presented to the Corona Cabinet. Among them were a 170 million NIS program to manage the routine of the pandemic and an exercise aimed at improving national preparedness against a new deadly variant in November 2021. Furthermore, Bennett’s approach of appointing a national generalist from the Ministry of Defense to oversee the crisis management operations also came under scrutiny, as this appointment was neither official nor appropriately structured.
Call for an Efficient Crisis Management Framework
The report underscores the necessity of establishing a comprehensive and regulated mechanism for managing national and civilian crises. It criticizes the ad-hoc establishment of new crises mechanisms by successive prime ministers, which led to inefficiencies and a lack of cohesive strategy. The Comptroller recommends forming a permanent operational body to handle significant decisions transparently and efficiently during national emergencies. Additionally, it proposes formalizing protocols to ensure the involvement of the Corona Cabinet or any designated crisis management body in all pivotal decisions.
In conclusion, while the innovative and rapid decisions by both Netanyahu and Bennett had their merits in battling the then-unprecedented crisis, the report stresses the importance of authorized and transparent decision-making processes to ensure accountability and comprehensive preparedness for future emergencies.
- Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's office responded to the report stating that Bennett's 'open Israel' policy effectively managed to keep the country operational during the pandemic, avoiding closures that had severely impacted businesses and the public. The office emphasized that the quick and decisive actions taken under his leadership mitigated harm to the self-employed and business owners in Israel.
- The Ministry of Health also responded, highlighting that Israel led a successful vaccination campaign without guaranteeing exclusivity to Pfizer. According to the Ministry, vaccines were procured from multiple companies that had completed all required approval stages, showing Israel's commitment to a diverse and effective vaccination strategy.
