How much isolation does it require?

was Tony Vespa, one of the city’s most popular pizza parlors. There were few people in the municipal square where thousands of Israelis traditionally gather.

This being Israel, a fierce debate about the likely impact of and need for such measures has erupted, as only 19 cases of the virus have been detected in Israel, and no one has died. Israel’s leading TV network quoted government sources unwilling to be identified as saying the new directives “border on hysteria” and warning they could jeopardize economic growth.

While the Israeli Finance Ministry and the Bank of Israel said this week there is no indication as yet that the coronavirus crisis is adversely affecting the economy, the bank acknowledged in a statement that a “significant economic impact” is likely if the epidemic persists.

El Al, Israel’s national airline, which was already planning downsizing, announced this week a layoff of 1,000 workers — onesixth of the airline’s workforce — to “ensure the future” of the company.

Although tourism to Israel since January increased 4.1% over the previous year, the epidemic is likely to change that. The number of Israelis traveling abroad is already falling.

A silver lining of the crisis, said one Israeli doctor reluctant to publicly criticize his government, may be closer ties between Israeli and Palestinian health officials. The two governments have been at odds over a new American peace plan strongly opposed by Palestinian officials but endorsed by Netanyahu and his main political opponent, Benny Gantz. On Friday, Defense Minister Naftali Bennett ordered the army, in coordination with the Palestinian Authority, to close Bethlehem after seven cases of the virus were detected there. And in another increasingly rare move, Israeli and Palestinian official met Thursday to coordinate efforts to contain Covid-19.

What politics has divided, a novel virus may bring together.

Miller is a contributing editor of City Journal.