52: 🇮🇱 Israel's world-leading Covid vaccine rollout

Jonny Gould's Jewish State

How has Israel built a world-leading reputation in combatting the Coronavirus threat? Why do foreign governments look to Israel for their lead? It all started with the incredible vaccine rollout in the summer of 2020. A deep faith in science and healthtech, a militarised efficiency, a high price on the value of life and a commitment to innovation and a unifying national cause. I’ve spoken to leading figures from the worlds of medical research and innovation, national security, diplomacy, politics and journalism. We hear from Israel’s chief researcher in its largest healthcare organisation, Clalit’s Ran Balicer, Colonel Richard Kemp, the UK’s former national security chief who chaired Cobra, responsible for coordinating national intelligence including MI5 and MI6. His Excellency Mansoor Abulhoul, the UAE’s ambassador to the UK, who declares the vaccine rollout as the early dividend of the Abraham Accords. And journalist, writer, author and hawklike watcher of the Middle East, Jake Wallis Simons, who writes for the Spectator and is deputy editor of Britain’s Jewish Chronicle, We also hear from David Jones MP, on the executive committee of the council for Arab British understanding and vice chair of the All-party parliamentary group on Jordan. And how despite the headlines, how Israel distributed some vaccines to the Palestinians but why the PA wanted to keep that quiet.

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