In an exclusive retirement interview, Minister Kahlon says: "We are from the generous countries during the Corona" • "The Ministry of Health almost caused millions of unemployed" • The full interview tomorrow on "Sitting"

Five years after taking office as Finance Minister, Moshe Kahlon will take his place as Minister of Israel Katz and retire from political life after nearly 20 years. In an exclusive interview with Israel Today, Kahlon concludes the political career, which ends after a particularly turbulent period around the Corona crisis that threatens the Israeli economy.

Netanyahu, Litzman, Kahlon and Director General of the Ministry of Health in Declaration ahead of elections // Photo: Newsenders

"It is not over yet, but even if another wave of corona comes, we must not repeat the moves we made. They were correct, we sacrificed the economy at the altar of health. It is impossible to do 'Look Down' again if there is another wave, it is dangerous. Right now we can say that we went through that. "

Kahlon tells of disagreements with health ministry officials throughout the crisis: "As we begin to feel that these guys (ministry members; JC) are exaggerating, I give guidance contrary to what they asked for. For example, they wanted to stop the entire industry, and I disagreed. I let the industry work. Every industrial customer who was a customer abroad was granted a permit to work. The industry did not drop from 80 percent of activity. Throughout the crisis, we prevented huge economic damage to the country. If we were to get everything that the health people wanted, today we would be with 3 million unemployed and ignorant. Even ten years from now. "

He says, "There comes a stage that you realize that a tsunami is coming and will wash everything down. You see that they are going disproportionate to what is going on, but everyone is scaring you, displaying horror scenarios and you have no way to contradict it. They say, 'Here, look at the pictures from Italy, From the US, how the bodies begin to pile up, the amount of coffins. ' So what do you say? Isn't that right? That won't happen? I said to the CEO, "Stay calm, don't worry, everything will be fine."

Preparing for an investigative committee

Kahlon was asked whether the Ministry of Health had deliberately exaggerated, and replied that "they did not know what would happen. Everyone looked and told himself that there would be a state commission of inquiry, and he did not want to explain why there are bodies of Israelis." Kahlon says of the compensation to civilians: "We are one of the most generous countries. The US gave $ 1,500 to the family. We gave a few beats in the amount of NIS 16-15,000. The Corona cost about NIS 140 billion to the State of Israel. I hope it ends. "

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Kahlon rejects claims that his voice was not heard and did not lead the plague: "Say it because I was not interviewed. It is annoying. I was there, I was present. I made no decisions and no decision was made without me. Without mentioning names, the media is praiseworthy to ministers who do a lot Noise in the media as if they are doing a lot of work The public needs to know that the person making the noise is not necessarily the one who works, I did not show up in the media and spent time at work, that the economy would not close, that we would not reach 3 million unemployed, that all grants would come out. I have a lot of respect for the media, but it is not everything. "

"Sharif Case Behind Me"

Kahlon, for the first time, addresses the issue of the messages he received from Judge Esther Crief, saying: "I am glad that this issue has been examined and there is no moral, moral, and no criminal defect. In this I end this event." Kahlon already has plans to continue. He recently received an offer to advise the OECD, and at the same time plans to work with international funds working with friendly Arab countries.



The full interview tomorrow at "Sitting"