Prime Minister Naftali Bennett responded this evening (Wednesday) to the harsh criticism leveled against him, following the announcement that his family had flown abroad - just days after he called on Israeli citizens to stay in the country.
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In a post he published on his Facebook account, Bennett wrote: "The Bennett family is subject to exactly the same rules that apply to all citizens of Israel. I understand the criticism, but since Friday we have learned more about the variant and in which countries it is being simplified, and the Corona Cabinet has made decisions about which countries are allowed to travel to and under what conditions.".
He added: "My family (without me, I'm staying with you...) was supposed to go on vacation during the Hanukkah holiday in a country that turned out to be red. The vacation was immediately canceled, and after the new rules became clear, they booked a vacation to a country that is allowed to go to.
""Everyone is going out according to all the restrictions and of course will remain in isolation as required. The citizens of Israel are just as important to me as my children.".
Earlier today, it was reported that the Bennett family, his wife Gilat and his children, took off for a several-day vacation abroad. Initially, a vacation was planned in Mauritius, Africa, but this was canceled in light of the decision to define Mauritius as a red country.
After the Corona Cabinet's decision to keep the skies open for Israeli travel, the vacation destination was changed.
However, only last Friday did Prime Minister Bennett recommend against flying abroad due to concerns about the Omicron strain, which has already penetrated 23 countries around the world.
At a press conference held after the meeting, and in response to a reporter's question about whether this was an appropriate time to fly abroad, the Prime Minister said: "If you ask me, I don't recommend flying abroad right now with such a level of uncertainty.".
MK Yisrael Katz criticized the family's trip and wrote: "After recommending that Israeli citizens not fly abroad - Bennett's wife and children take off for a vacation abroad. This is what happens when political lies become the norm and personal example is trampled on in public. Simply impudence.".
Katz added after Bennett published his response: "Bennett's explanation for his family's trip abroad, contrary to the warnings he gave the public, is worse than the act itself. 'Since Friday we have learned more about the variant.' So why didn't you update the public and change the recommendation? 0 credibility.".
MK Yaakov Asher to Naftali Bennett: "We already knew that in your eyes there is no value to the word you said, but because of your word, many thousands canceled flights and an entire industry entered economic uncertainty, while in the meantime you continue to quietly plan the family vacation. As Lapid once said: Shame is dead, we are now at its funeral.".
MK Simcha Rotman: "Friends, what do you want from the Bennett family? Naftali Bennett did say that he recommends not going abroad, but it was a non-binding statement. Not serious. You're making a big deal out of it as if he signed it... in the studio... in front of the entire public....""
Media personality Dafna Liel from News 12 responded after Bennett's response: "If the recommendation has changed since Friday, it would be appropriate to update the public.".
Meanwhile, senior officials in the tourism industry responded to the Prime Minister's wife's trip: "Following Bennett's statement recommending against flying, thousands canceled their trips, causing great damage to the already battered tourism industry. His family's trip is simply outrageous.".
Sharon Idan, the aviation correspondent for 'Kan News', reported that "The CEO of one of the airlines told me yesterday that the volume of cancellations to the destination to which the Bennett family departed is approaching 40%. These are the people who relied on him to say 'I recommend not flying' twice within 48 hours. On Friday afternoon and Sunday morning.
""The damage is enormous. Appearance is a super important thing. It doesn't make sense that people stayed and they flew away as if nothing happened.".
