Israel begins vaccinating Palestinian labourers at military checkpoints

Palestinian labourers wait in line at a temporary vaccination center at the Rachel's Tomb checkpoint crossing into Israel, in Bethlehem, West Bank

Credit: Kobi Woolf/Kobi Woolf

Israel has this week begun vaccinating some 100,000 Palestinians at checkpoints after weeks of international criticism — though only those who cross into the Jewish state’s territory for work purposes.

The labourers, who live in the West Bank, frequently cross into Israel and its settlements. But as very few Palestinians have been vaccinated so far, they also risk passing on the virus to Israelis. 

At a checkpoint between Bethlehem and Jerusalem, around a hundred Palestinian workers gathered outside a vaccination centre guarded by Israeli soldiers on Wednesday afternoon.

“It’s a matter of facilitating my working life,” said Nassim, a 48-year-old labourer from the village of Husan. “If I’m not vaccinated I may be locked down, and that means I may not work. It’s necessary for me.”

Also in the queue was Tarek Zuhour, a 28-year-old construction worker, who said he was pleased to receive a jab as many of his relatives had suffered from Covid. “It has been a very tough year,” he said. 

“I’m very happy to have this chance and to help end this pandemic,” added Bilal, a 28-year-old construction worker. 

Several labourers said they had been warned by prospective employers they may not be allowed to work in Israel unless they received the jab.

“This virus knows no geographical borders,” said Colonel Eyal Zevi, a senior official from the Israeli military unit Cogat, which handles civil affairs in the West Bank. “Therefore, the vaccination of the Palestinian workers is a common interest for both parties.”  

An armed Israeli soldier stands guard as Palestinian laborers wait in line at a temporary vaccination center at the Rachel's Tomb checkpoint crossing into Israel, in Bethlehem

Credit: Kobi Wolf/Kobi Wolf

The move to vaccinate some 100,000 workers comes after Israel faced international criticism for not sharing doses with the Palestinians. 

Israel says it is not legally required to share vaccines as the 1990s-era Oslo peace accords state this is up to Palestinian leaders. But human rights groups, such as Medical Aid for Palestinians, say Israel does face that obligation under wider international law.  "As an occupying power, it is legally obligated to ensure vaccine access for all Palestinians under its control," said Dr Aimee Shalan, the chief executive of Medical Aid for Palestinians. 

In addition to vaccinating labourers, Israel is giving a further 5,000 vaccines to the Palestinians, while the United Arab Emirates has sent 20,000 doses to Gaza. 

While the Palestinian Authority [PA] is running its own vaccination campaign, which relies in part on the WHO-led Covax scheme and the Russian Sputnik vaccine, the shipments have faced delays. 

On Wednesday, Mohammad Shtayyeh, the Palestinian prime minister, urged the World Heath Organisation and the international community to provide more support. 

However, the PA is facing corruption allegations after it emerged that some of the 12,000 vaccines it has received were given to professional footballers and ministers, instead of health workers. 

The Palestinian Health ministry has confirmed this took place, but said this only accounted for 10 per cent of the doses they have administered.