Israel’s Health Minister has told CNN that he does not believe Israel has an obligation or responsibility to provide Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza with a vaccine against the coronavirus, but instead emphasized cooperation in the treatment of an increase. of new cases of Covid-19. in the Palestinian Territories.
Yuli Edelstein’s comments come after the World Health Organization (WHO) said it had held informal talks with the Israeli Ministry of Health about the potential delivery of vaccines to Palestinian health workers as an “immediate priority target”.
“We are working with the Palestinians to make sure they receive the right treatment for coronavirus patients. At this stage we are not supplying vaccines, but we do understand that it is in Israel’s interest to ensure that we do not end up in a situation where we have been vaccinated and get out of trouble, and on the Palestinian side there is yet another increase in numbers, “Edelstein said on CNN’s New Day.
Israel is leading the world in vaccinating its people, with nearly 20% of the population receiving at least one dose of the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine. But it has been criticized by some human rights groups who say it is mandatory under international law to also provide vaccines to Palestinians.
For example, Amnesty International said last week: “The Israeli government must stop ignoring its international obligations as an occupying force and act immediately to ensure that COVID-19 vaccines are provided equally and fairly to the Palestinians living under its occupation on the West Bank. the Gaza Strip. ”
Groups like Amnesty point to the Fourth Geneva Convention which, among other tasks of an occupying force, speaks of ensuring “measures necessary to combat the spread of contagious diseases and epidemics”.
Israel argues that the Oslo Accords, signed with the Palestinians in the 1990s, transfer responsibility for health care for Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza to the Palestinian Authority (PA).
The Director General of the Health Directorate of the Palestinian Ministry of Health told CNN that the PA had not sought Israel’s help with vaccines, something that was contradicted by the chair of the Union of Medical Assistance Committees, Mustafa Barghouti, himself a prominent Palestinian. politician. He told CNN that reports the PA had asked for about 10,000 doses to health professionals were correct. Barghouti said the request had been rejected by Israel.
The WHO said it had been told the Israeli Ministry of Health was willing to ‘explore’ the option ‘of immediate vaccines for medical workers in the Palestinian territories, but that it was’ currently unable to deliver vaccines due to a shortage of vaccines in the Palestinian territories. Israel.”
Edelstein told CNN, “It is our interest; it in no way means it is our duty or our responsibility. The Palestinians lead the Palestinian Authority … but as has happened in recent months, we were always ready to help with equipment, with good advice, with products or with medicines, and this kind of collaboration will continue. ”
The Palestinian Ministry of Health said on Monday it had registered Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine for what it calls a state of emergency, with an initial batch expected to arrive in the areas within a month, according to the Russian Direct Investment Fund, which announced the development. of the vaccine. The Department of Health also says it has contracts with three other suppliers of Covid-19 vaccines.