The Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance did meet, but contrary to the publications, they did not agree on freezing the price of electricity, water and property taxes (Photo: Reuven Castro)
A meeting was held, the issue of the cost of living was discussed, but no operative decisions were made: there is no media outlet that did not report on the four-way meeting that took place last night between the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of the Economy and Professor Avi Simhon, former head of the National Economic Headquarters and Netanyahu's advisor.
The meeting was held in view of the wave of price increases in the economy, either by private parties such as manufacturers and importers - or at the initiative of the government authorities, as in the case of the increase in the prices of fuel, electricity, water and property taxes.
Following the meeting, news spread in the media as if it had been agreed upon during the meeting to cancel the price increase, especially in regards to electricity and water rates - and it was not.
Netanyahu and Smotrich during the swearing in of the government in the Knesset.
They met, discussed, but agreed that the issue would be transferred to headquarters at the Ministry of Finance, before actual steps were decided upon (Photo: Reuven Castro)
Vala learned that the four decided to prioritize staff work in the Ministry of Finance for any decision that is made.
The role of the finance personnel will be, among other things, to offer funding sources for initiatives based on ease and discounts, as much as such will be decided.
In addition, not every such move can be carried out quickly, since the supervision of the rates is in the hands of statutory authorities and changing their decision is a complex procedure.
What's more: in the Ministry of Finance there are those who are not enthusiastic about trying to find sources of funding for discounts, concessions and benefits, in view of the difficult times that are affecting the global economy, which will also have an effect on the rate of growth of the Israeli economy, even though it is in a relatively good condition.
According to what is known, some of the efforts to reduce the cost of living will only be answered in the budget that will be formulated by the Treasury, meaning - within a few months.
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Benjamin Netanyahu
Bezalel Smotrich
Avi Simhon
Nir Barkat
electrical power