Regardless of the circumstances or motives of the Israeli government — and especially the person who heads it — it deserves full praise for its rapid vaccination operation, even if not for the overall way that the pandemic has so far been handled. More than a third of the population has already been inoculated with a first dose, and half of these have also received their second shot. This is by far the fastest rollout of a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination program anywhere in the world.

It has been reported that Israel has procured more vaccine doses than it needs, which are either already in the country or on their way. This is most impressive by any account. How is it, then, that not a single member of the Cabinet, let alone Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu himself, could find in themselves the ounce of humanity required to enable them to understand the health benefits or even the political wisdom of sharing this success with the Palestinians of the West Bank and Gaza?

It took a firm request from Israel’s military authority in the Occupied Territories for a reluctant Israeli government to agree last week to deliver 5,000 vaccine doses for Palestinian medical staff, but no more than that. It is impossible to think of one half-feasible reason — even a self-interested one — for Israel not to work closely with the Palestinian Authority (PA) and international humanitarian organizations to roll out a vaccination program for the 4.5 million Palestinians living under occupation.

This is, after all, morally the right course of action to take. It would meet Israel’s obligations as required by international law, it makes complete sense in the battle to stop the pandemic’s spread in such a small territory and its impact on Israel, and, as a bonus, it would also serve as a useful confidence-building measure, not to mention being no mean public relations exercise in improving Israel’s international reputation. This is one of the rare moments amid the complexity of Israeli-Palestinian relations that a win-win situation has presented itself; an opportunity that the current Israeli government is ready to throw away for no apparent reason.

Under Articles 55 and 56 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, an occupying power has a duty of care for the health of the occupied. The convention clearly states that the occupying power is duty-bound to ensure medical supplies for the population and, more specifically, “to combat the spread of contagious diseases and epidemics.” It could hardly be clearer than that.

However, Israel takes a “flexible” legal approach in treating the West Bank and Gaza merely according to convenience. When it comes to its security, confiscating land or building settlements, it deals with the territory as if it has the legal right to control the place in its entirety. However, when it comes to obligations, the Israeli government is quick to hide behind the claim that it is the responsibility of the PA to ensure the well-being of Palestinians in the West Bank, and of Hamas to do likewise in the Gaza Strip. There is more than a hint of hypocrisy in this approach. After all, Israel, through its security forces, is in almost complete control of both these parts of Palestine, whether or not Israelis are physically present.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 176,000 people in the Occupied Territories have tested positive for COVID-19 and more than 1,900 have succumbed to the virus.

Vaccination is a matter of life and death, and the UN reminded Israel last month that: “Morally and legally, this differential access to necessary health care in the midst of the worst global health crisis in a century is unacceptable.”

In an interview with the BBC last month, Israeli Health Minister Yuli Edelstein, while boasting with some justification about his government’s vaccination program, denied any legal obligation to roll out a similar program for the Palestinians. He was adamant that this was the responsibility of the Palestinian health minister, flippantly asking: “What exactly is the responsibility of the Palestinian health minister — to take care of the dolphins in the Mediterranean?” Well, because of the Israeli occupation and its restrictions on their movement, most Palestinians who live in the West Bank can’t even spend a day on the beach, let alone take care of dolphins. On the other hand, proactive Israeli support with vaccinations could save many Palestinian lives.

Israel faces a general election in less than two months and Netanyahu, especially in light of the mounting COVID-19 casualties, the devastating economic, social and mental health consequences, and a nation on edge after three lockdowns, is desperate to demonstrate some success to his supporters. The speedy rollout of the vaccine is an undeniable achievement and, since the Palestinians of the West Bank and Gaza don’t vote in Israeli elections and his base is far from harboring any sympathy for their plight, the prime minister has no political incentive to invest time, energy and money on a vaccination program for them. His government’s approach to Palestinian public health is appalling, politically motivated cynicism, and amounts to criminal negligence.

Needless to say, the PA and Hamas have a responsibility to protect their people. Nevertheless, they are not sovereign states or independent in most aspects of their operations. Moreover, occupation and blockade, as well as inadequate and authoritarian Palestinian governance, has left both parts of Palestine in a deep financial crisis and hardly in a position to produce an effective nationwide vaccination program. Are we prepared to turn our backs on millions of people because their occupiers and their own leadership are fundamentally flawed?

This is one of the rare moments amid the complexity of Israeli-Palestinian relations that a win-win situation has presented itself.

Yossi Mekelberg

Israel is showing the way in mass vaccination against the spread of COVID-19, and wouldn’t it be refreshing to see an Israeli government depart from its narrow view of Palestinians as enemies and instead treat them, first and foremost, as human beings for whose well-being it has a degree of responsibility? It is time for the Israeli government to follow a recent call by 200 rabbis, who stated the following: “Judaism teaches a moral imperative not to show indifference as our neighbor suffers, but rather to mobilize and offer help in times of need.” It might be time to pay heed to this strand of Judaism. It would make an inspirational change and, most importantly, would save thousands of lives.

• Yossi Mekelberg is professor of international relations at Regent’s University London, where he is head of the International Relations and Social Sciences Program. He is also an associate fellow of the MENA Program at Chatham House. He is a regular contributor to the international written and electronic media. Twitter: @YMekelberg