CAMERA last week prompted correction of the caption of an Anadolu/Getty Images picture which had erroneously identified the demands of photographed protesters in Jerusalem. The caption had stated: “Israeli protesters gather on Saturday night in protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding his resignation over corruption cases and his failure to combat the new type of coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic in West Jerusalem on October 31, 2020. (Photo by Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images).”
While the pictured protesters were part of a large demonstration including many who oppose Prime Minister Netanyahu’s handling of the pandemic and/or who demand his resignation over alleged corruption charges, those photographed are carrying signs completely unrelated to either of the issues cited in the caption.
JERUSALEM – OCTOBER 31: Israeli protestors display a sign reading “democracy or occupation” (right), and another referring to a detained Palestinian man, Maher Al-Akhras (left), during a protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in West Jerusalem on October 31, 2020. Recent months have seen a wave of anti-Netanyahu protests prompted by his ongoing corruption case and his government’s response to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. (Photo by Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

At the same time, the COVID-19 figures in Israel continue to decline. As we are all aware, the consequences of the steps being taken now will only be felt in about two weeks. Therefore, the low numbers being recorded now reflect the limitations on social contacts that were tightened following the lockdown at the beginning of October. Still, the numbers are low even to a somewhat surprising extent compared to earlier projections.