The Israeli health minister has told CNN that he does not believe Israel has an obligation or responsibility to supply the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza with a coronavirus vaccine, but stressed cooperation in treatment to prevent an increase in new cases. from Covid-19 to the Palestinian territories.
Yuli Edelstein’s comments come after the World Health Organization (WHO) said it had held informal discussions with the Israeli Ministry of Health about the possible supply of vaccines to the Palestinian workforce as a “target group. immediate priority “.
“We are cooperating with the Palestinians to ensure that they receive adequate treatment for coronavirus patients. At this stage we do not supply vaccines, but we understand that it is in Israel’s interest to ensure that we do not enter a situation where we are vaccinated and we are out of trouble, and that on the Palestinian side there is another increase, “Edelstein told CNN on the new day.
Israel leads the world in vaccinating its people, almost 20% of the population has received at least one dose of the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine. But he has been criticized by some human rights groups who say he has obligations under international law to provide vaccines to Palestinians as well.
Amnesty International, for example, said last week: “The Israeli government must stop ignoring its international obligations as an occupying power and act immediately to ensure that COVID-19 vaccines are provided equitably and equitably to the Palestinians. living under occupation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. ”
Groups such as Amnesty point to the fourth Geneva Convention, which, among other duties of an occupying power, speaks of ensuring “the necessary measures to combat the spread of contagious diseases and epidemics.”
Israel argues that the Oslo Accords, signed with the Palestinians in the 1990s, cede to the Palestinian Authority (PA) responsibility for health care for Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza.
The director general of the Public Health Directorate of the Palestinian Ministry of Health told CNN that the PA had not requested Israeli assistance with the vaccines, which contradicted the chairman of the Union of Health Care Committees. , Mustafa Barghouti, who was one of the leading Palestinian politicians. He told CNN that the AP had sought about 10,000 doses for the right health care workers. Barghouti said the request had been rejected by Israel.
The WHO said the Israeli Ministry of Health was said to be ready to “explore the option” of immediate vaccines for medical workers in the Palestinian territories, but was informed that “it is currently not in a position to supply vaccines. due to the shortage of vaccines in Israel. “
Edelstein told CNN: “It is in our interest; it does not mean in any way that it is our obligation or our responsibility. The Palestinians run the Palestinian Authority … but, as has been the case in recent months, always we were prepared for help with equipment, with good advice, with products or with medicines, and this kind of cooperation will continue “.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health said Monday that it had registered the Russian vaccine Sputnik V for what it called emergency use, with an initial batch expected to reach the territories within a month, according to the Direct Investment Fund. Russia, which sponsored the development of the vaccine. The Ministry of Health says it has also signed contracts with three other Covid-19 vaccine suppliers.