Israeli security chief ‘broke lockdown rules’ to host family dinner

A man looks at the fenced-off entrance of a closed shopping mall in Jerusalem 

Credit: AFP

The head of the Israeli agency tracking coronavirus breached lockdown by hosting a family dinner at his home, according to Israeli media reports, as a series of senior public figures were also accused of flouting the rules.

Nadav Argaman is the head of the Shin Bet security agency and oversees a mobile phone surveillance programme that tracks coronavirus carriers.

Mr Argaman hosted a number of relatives who are not part of his household during the Jewish festival of Sukkot, according to Israeli broadcaster Kan.

Israel has been placed under lockdown once again, following a severe second wave of coronavirus.

Under those rules, it is forbidden to enter another person’s home except for essential reasons, such as helping someone in distress. Shin Bet declined to comment on the allegations

It also emerged this week that Sara Netanyahu, the wife of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, broke lockdown rules by having a hairdresser visit her at home in Jerusalem. 

Meanwhile Gila Gamliel, Israel’s environmental minister, is facing calls to step down after she broke lockdown rules to travel from her home in Tel Aviv to Tiberias.

And Mickey Levy, a lawmaker in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, has resigned from the parliament’s coronavirus committee for violating lockdown.