Israeli Arabs wonder how COVID-19 will shape Ramadan 2021
On the other hand, none of this justifies the fact that the rate of inoculation in the Arab population is lower than it is among the Jewish one. While people all around the world are waiting for the vaccine, in Israel vaccines are waiting for people, especially in the Arab towns and villages. Because vaccination rates are so low, clinics dispensing the vaccine have begun giving shots to young people, even though the available vaccines were earmarked for older people first.
So what is expected for Ramadan this year? Ziyad Abu Mukh, head of the Interior Ministry’s Muslim desk, told Al-Monitor, “We will prepare a list of guidelines for Ramadan, which is fast approaching. We plan to release them to the media and on social networks. It should be remembered that for the spread of the virus, mosques could become a problematic spot due to the high number of worshippers during Ramadan. Two weeks before Ramadan begins, we will decide what steps to take, after looking at the rate of infection and the percentage of people who already received vaccinations. We will meet with the Ministry of Health and decide on the guidelines together.”
When asked whether closing the mosques like last year was an option, he responded that he did not think that would happen, given the vaccination campaign. “We appeal to worshippers in the mosques every Friday and ask them to get vaccinated. This year the mosques could be kept open during Ramadan in accordance with the guidelines. These will likely include social distancing between worshippers, compulsory face masks and limits on the number of worshippers in attendance.”
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health already started putting together its own guidelines for Ramadan, based on the assumption that the infection rate will remain in the same range as it is today, despite efforts to increase the rate of vaccination in the Arab sector. In practical terms, the ministry does not anticipate a nighttime curfew like last year. On the other hand, iftar meals will still be limited to the immediate family and prayers will be held outdoors, with access to the mosques limited to people who have a green tag, meaning that they have been vaccinated or have recovered from the disease. Furthermore, movement at the crossing points with the Palestinian Authority (PA) will be limited.
One of the most pressing questions is what will happen at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Given the volatility of the site, a decision about it has yet to be made. There are too many considerations that must be taken into account.
The Health Ministry’s spokesman for the Arab public, Zahi Saeed, told Al-Monitor, “The vaccination rate in the Arab population is about 20% less than the Jewish population. Fifteen people died of the coronavirus on Wednesday [March 10], of whom eight were Arabs. In fact, most severe cases now in the hospital are from the Arab sector. Apathy toward the vaccination campaign is very disconcerting. That is why we are working on guidelines for Ramadan that will emphasize celebrating the iftar meal with the immediate family only and result in fewer interactions between people. At the same time, it is important to remember that we are also under intense political pressure. To tell you the truth, it is quite possible that this pressure will impact our final decisions.”
Asked what particularly worries him, he answered, “The whole situation is worrying, even though the overall vaccination rate in Israel is very impressive. What we must not forget is that people in the PA have yet to be vaccinated, and the crossing points are open, weddings are allowed and they [Israel] are about to reopen the airport. Taken together, all of this could cause the infection rate to rise again.”