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IDF Steps Up Efforts to Curb Coronavirus in Jerusalem's Arab Neighborhoods

(Jerusalem Post) Khaled Abu Toameh - The IDF has stepped up its efforts to help residents of Jerusalem's Arab neighborhoods as they face a sharp increase in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases. The Home Front Command has been operating in these neighborhoods since March, working in coordination with the Jerusalem Municipality's community centers in the Arab neighborhoods. Col. Itay Levi, Commanding Officer of the Jerusalem and Central District, said: "The pandemic does not differentiate between Jew and Arab. Our mission as an army and soldiers is to help people during disasters....In the beginning, everyone thought it would be difficult for the IDF to deal with the Arab residents. I believe we are making history when you see [IDF] soldiers working shoulder-to-shoulder with Arabs in Jerusalem." Brig.-Gen. (res.) Ben Tzvi Eliasi, Commanding Officer of the Control Center in east Jerusalem, said, "We are helping with the tests for coronavirus and hotels for absorbing the patients....We are now in the process of preparing more hotels in east Jerusalem for absorbing infected cases [and]...we are providing food and medicine to those patients who choose to remain at home."
2020-08-03 00:00:00
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