What will a total lockdown look like?

If the country enters a total lockdown to contain the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, what will it look like?

On Wednesday, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said in light of the outbreak, a total lockdown in Israel was inevitable. A few hours later, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was ready to issue the order if the emergency intensified and the public did not heed restrictions already imposed by the government.

Speaking to The Jerusalem Post, a senior government official said the lockdown is not going to be declared before Sunday and

the court appears to be hoping that the issue will be resolved by the Monday deadline set by the Likud and Blue and White to reach understandings regarding the Knesset or a national-unity government.

Attorney Shahar BenMeir, in conjunction with the Movement for Digital Rights, filed the first petition earlier, demanding the court freeze Shin Bet surveillance until the Knesset signs off.

Later, the Joint List Party, Adalah and the Association for Civil Rights in Israel filed parallel petitions.

The petitioners said the basis for any Shin Bet involvement should be the Shin Bet Law, which includes significant civil-liberties protections, and not an emergency order, which contains fewer protections.

There has been controversy about whether a transitional government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should have the authority to activate the Shin Bet to perform surveillance of infected citizens prior to the Knesset giving approval.

There are accusations that the executive branch is usurping powers and exploiting the crisis to silence the Knesset and the courts, especially since earlier this week acting Justice Minister Amir Ohana issued an order that postponed Netanyahu’s public corruption trial from this past Tuesday until May 24. •