The international health crisis first appeared in China and then spread worldwide until it reached ‘Israel’, which has always said, “Bring in any living being, and we will make them survive”. However, despite its great medical potentials, ‘Israel’ failed to contain the virus to the extent that its leadership is panicking over its spread among the people. As a result, all arrivals will be kept in quarantine for 14 days. As embarrassing as that is, it is more embarrassing that all countries banned flights from and to it.

In spite of the health crisis, the Israeli occupation is facing a much more difficult one (i.e. the political crisis). Although ‘Israel’ should be a young country according to its founders’ plans, the current issues have been pushing towards its decline.

Rivlin, the current President of the occupation’s state, assigned Benny Gantz the formation of the new government amidst major opposition by some parties joined in his alliance (such as Abekasis who joined the elections under Kahol Lavan alliance). In addition, Netanyahu remains accused and the fear of imprisonment haunts him.

Overview of the Scene

Anyone who observes the history of Israeli medicine can see how fast it has been advancing in this field, especially in finding vaccines and antivirals. ‘Israel’ is currently trying to find a vaccine for the COVID-19 which is from ‘Coronavirus’ family. Israeli labs had already found a vaccine for SARS virus in a short period of time. Therefore, it would be easy to find a new vaccine for the COVID-19.

Still, the crisis exists and it is medically uncontrollable in ‘Israel’. The number of infected is rising, and despite all the efforts the absence of an official government is critically affecting the pace of finding a solution. 

Furthermore, the spread of the Coronavirus is affecting the Israeli economy as the Shekel’s value dropped hence making the transitional government in a weak position.  

Naftali Bennett, Minister of Israeli War, ordered the recruitment of 2500 reserve soldiers to support the internal front. So long as the virus threatens the country, the development and improvement of the occupation’s forces will be negatively influenced. Following are the risks the occupation is facing:   

• The risk of a possible war. The resistance could exploit the current instability that the occupation is facing due to the Coronavirus and the political crisis, and fire first. There are currently no soldiers in the field, and the occupation will not be able to turn the war into a biological or military operation due to the spread of the virus and absence of a vaccine.
• The danger of Palestinians regrouping near the fence as part of the Great March of Return, which will be reactivated on May 30^th. As a result, the occupation forces particularly and the ‘state’ as a whole will be unstable due to working on a vaccine and trying to prevent the Great March of Return. The occupation will not allow itself to be responsible for spreading the virus in the Gaza Strip, so it will try to keep it safe.
• The danger of the absence of an official government ruling the country. As the current government cannot make critical decisions. Also, the phantom of a fourth election is hovering around.
• The health risk as the Coronavirus has spread across the ‘country’.
• The fall of the Israeli economy and the drop in the value of the Shekel which would cost the government a lot.

Possible Scenarios

            Following are the possible scenarios for the situation in ‘Israel’: 

• The spread of COVID-19 in the occupation and the latter’s inability to control the situation thus weakening ‘Israel’s’ position, especially that is has not found a vaccine for the virus yet.
• The Israeli labs’ ability to find a vaccine for the virus.
• Gantz’ inability to form a government, and the Knesset’s approval of Abekasis’ withdrawal from the alliance which would result in weakening Gantz’ position. In addition, Gantz’ ability to form a government without Netanyahu would push the latter away from the political arena handcuffed into prison.
• Gantz’ inability to form a government would make Rivlin assign Netanyahu again to form a government; however, he would be unable to as he is already accused of different charges. If Netanyahu manages to form a  government, he would eradicate the Leftists from the political arena.