‘ Kochavi broke corona rules’

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.- Gen. Aviv Kochavi broke the coronavirus regulations during Sukkot, Channel 12 reported Thursday .

Kochavi hosted his in- laws in the North, the report said.

The IDF said that throughout the pandemic the chief of staff has refrained from hosting and being hosted in accordance with the regulations but “on the evening in question, his in- laws, who live three houses away, were hosted in the yard of the house, keeping their distance and wearing masks.”

The visit occurred “out of a mistaken understanding that the regulations allow for meetings outdoors. The chief of staff regrets this and takes responsibility out of an understanding of the paramount importance of maintaining the regulations.”

Kochavi is the latest senior official to have broken the strict coronavirus regulations, both political and security.

On Tuesday, KAN reported that Shin Bet ( Israel Security Agency) head Nadav Argaman hosted family members during Sukkot.

The agency on Thursday released a statement in which Argaman apologized for the incident and confirmed that on Saturday he hosted relatives.

“Contrary to reports, the only people who spent time in the home were his children and his wife’s children. The total number of people present, including those who live in the home, were eight people, who were outdoors,” the statement said. “The head of the service apologizes for the event and takes full responsibility for it.”