According to a statement made by Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Sunday evening, the Coronavirus Cabinet will meet on Monday to discuss the current situation in Israel, but the final decision regarding the extension of the nationwide lockdown that is currently in effect in Israel will only be made this Thursday. Currently, the lockdown is set to expire on Sunday, isru chag sukkot.

The current lockdown, Israel’s second, has just begun its third week and the Prime Minister urged Israelis, from all backgrounds, to adhere to the rules so that the number of daily cases of people contracting the virus will go down in a short video that he published on Sunday.

Netanyahu said in the video: “Citizens of Israel happy holidays. Like you, I celebrated Sukkot a little differently; this is a Sukkot without guests. I know, it is different but I ask from everyone – ultra-orthodox and secular alike – to maintain the directives. The lockdown directives are not against you. They are against the virus and if we all work together, we will defeat this virus.”

“Today I held talks on the issue of rapid tests, also on the economy, and on other subjects as well, around the clock. We are working in order to defeat the virus.”

Netanyahu had previously stated that in spite of the slight decline in cases, Israel will need to extend the lockdown, and that it may, in part, last up to a year.

“Now, there are those who are already saying that they are cautiously optimistic that the lockdown is already beginning to work, to flatten the growth curve. I am more cautious than the cautious. I want to wait until at least ten days have passed.”

“This means that the decisions on the continuation of the lockdown, after Simchat Torah, we will only make on Thursday. In the meantime, tomorrow in the Cabinet we will discuss long-term coronavirus exit data, the transition from stage to stage, safeguarding the older population, bigger fines and increased discipline and enforcement, because this is in our soul.”

Making a reference to the kabbalistic view on the arba minim representing Jews from all backgrounds, Netanyahu added: “I ask that you all unite like the four species for the good of our people and for the good of all citizens of the State of Israel in the face of the global coronavirus pandemic.”