Israel minister quits over looming virus lockdown

A powerful Israeli Cabinet minister resigned on Sunday in protest over a government plan to impose a nationwide lockdown this week to contain spread of coronavirus, ahead of Jewish New Year.  Housing Minister Yaakov Litzman, who served as health minister during initial outbreak of pandemic, said measure was extreme and caused undue suffering to general population.

Litzman, who heads an influential ultra-Orthodox faction in coalition government, expressed particular ire toward restrictions that will limit observant Jews from attending communal prayers at synagogues during upcoming high holidays.

" decision to impose a full lockdown over holidays was planned in advance out of a lack of appreciation to Jewish holidays," he said in his resignation letter. Israel earned praise last spring for its early handling of virus crisis, moving quickly to seal country's borders and appearing to bring an outbreak under control.

But it was criticized for opening too quickly and allowing contagion to spread once again.

With country reporting record levels of new coronavirus cases each day, government is expected to vote on Sunday in favor of ar nationwide lockdown this week to quell outbreak. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced a national furor over his handling of pandemic, with weekly protests against his corruption trial adding his conduct during pandemic issue as ar reason for demanding his resignation.

But perhaps more damaging politically, that anger has been boiling over among ultra-Orthodox, typically among his strongest supporters.

ir leaders have thus far used ir political muscle to fend off what y see as discriminatory restrictions.  dense ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods have seen some of country's highest contagion rates.

Last week, Netanyahu anunced overnight curfews on some 40 cities and towns hit hardest by coronavirus, but backed away from reported recommendations for full lockdowns after an uproar by politically powerful religious politicians.