Did Israel Refuse to Vaccinate Palestinians?

Israel’s focus on vaccination did indeed include Palestinians. Not only that, at multiple occasions Israel offered to assist the Palestinian Authority with hospital equipment, access to vaccines, and more. Israel offered Pfizer vaccines, although the Palestinian Authority chose to purchase the Sputnik vaccine from Russia. But at no point did Israel refuse to vaccinate the Palestinians. Israel is also under no legal obligation to do so, as healthcare concerns are under the authority of the Palestinian government according to the Oslo Accords.

THE TRUTH ABOUT ISRAEL’S COVID VACCINE EXCHANGE

Israel & South Korea Signed
a COVID-19 Vaccine Pact

As part of this deal, Israel would send 700,000 Pfizer vaccine doses to South Korea by the end of July 2021.

In turn, South Korea would send the same
amount back in the fall.

Why this deal?

South Korea has faced difficulties with vaccine rollout due to shortages and shipment delays.

Israel has left-over, unused vaccine doses set to expire at the end of July. The deal will be finalized once they are screened in South Korea.

What About the Palestinians?

Initially, doses of the vaccine were going to be sent to the Palestinian Authority. The Palestinians rejected the doses because the expiration date was deemed too soon to be useful to them.

However, the Israel Health Ministry was still using the vaccine on their own people, proving that both could take advantage of the vaccines.

The Palestinian
Authority

In January 2021, the Palestinian Authority purchased the Sputnik Vaccine from Russia.

In February of 2021, Israel sent 2000 doses, the first of 5000 agreed to help vaccinate Palestinian healthcare workers.

Shouldn’t Israel Vaccinate the Palestinians?

As part of the Oslo Accords, the Palestinian Authority is responsible for all healthcare and vaccination decisions for Palestinians residing in the West Bank and Gaza.

Despite this, Israel has vaccinated Palestinian residents in Jerusalem and over 100,000 Palestinians employed in Israel.

Photo Credit: Quirinale.it, Attribution, via Wikimedia Commons