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Struggling to Survive: Businesses Seek Outline for Opening Trade Israel today

2020-10-27T22:15:10.325Z


| economyKami, the jewelry saleswoman and single mother with her parents' help • Michelle, the textile salesman, sits alone in the store - crying • And Uri the book begs to return - for mental health • Seven business owners told us about the difficulties and concerns of the Corona period Groaning under the restrictions - and seeking a decent living: Against the backdrop of the gradual exit from the second


Kami, the jewelry saleswoman and single mother with her parents' help • Michelle, the textile salesman, sits alone in the store - crying • And Uri the book begs to return - for mental health • Seven business owners told us about the difficulties and concerns of the Corona period

Groaning under the restrictions - and seeking a decent living:

Against the backdrop of the gradual exit from the second quarantine, many small business owners feel that their life enterprise is on the verge of an abyss.

In the run-up to the government's decision to open the street shops, "Israel Today" reporters spoke with seven of them, and heard mainly one call: to find an outline that would allow them to open their businesses, while maintaining maximum health.

Edelstein "Maintaining the slow pace of easing is what protects the Israeli economy" // Photo: GPO

47 years have passed since Yaakov Kashmacher immigrated to Israel - and became one of the first artists to establish a gallery in the artists' quarter in the Old City of Safed.

"The late father grew up in France and in the 1960s moved to New York and there was a description of performances, including Frank Zappa and Woodstock," says his son Mordechai Kashmacher, who continues to own the gallery established by his late father.

"He was a hippie for everything but in 1973 he repented, immigrated to Israel and established a gallery for painting and photography here."

Nothing prepared him for the economic crisis that erupted about eight months ago with the entry of the corona virus into Israel.

"My business has been closed since March and until now we do not see light at the end of the tunnel," explains Mordechai Kashmacher.

"I have never had such a thing in my life. We, the gallery owners, are completely finished. The whole street looks like Yom Kippur. The state gives a little, but it's like paracetamol to a cancer patient. Our problem is that the galleries are based on inbound tourism, so even if they open the economy "It will not help us enough. We need them to open the sky as well."

"The streets are deserted"

A few years after he started working in the pub business, Almog Bukra (27) asked to embark on a new path.

A year ago, he set up two bars in the Afula market, but precisely when business began to gain momentum, the corona virus came to Israel and preyed on the cards.

"We saw the past and the defeat that is expected in the field of bars, so within a month and a half we opened a new business in the market - hamburger. In this there is at least the possibility of making deliveries and takeaways, but even that is not enough. The street is deserted and has no soul.

"I ask that they open the economy now and not wait until November 29. I, too, as a strong person, have a limit. If there is another closure, I no longer see myself continuing."

Amiram Ben Zaken is a 31-year-old hair stylist, married with two children, living in Ashdod.

Recently he has been working to help small businesses in general and his city in particular.

According to him, power struggles between government ministries, against a background of irrelevance, led to awkwardness in decision-making and delays in restrictions that eventually led to closure.

"There are a lot of small businesses that have collapsed and the current situation has caused them to close their life's work," he adds. "I must point out that Minister Miri Regev was our voice in the cabinet and even met with us to take care of us. If everyone consulted with us like Regev for example - we would make decisions better".

Uri Atias, 59, from Hatzor HaGlilit, has also been working as a barber for nearly forty years.

Although he is already a veteran in business, he is having a hard time surviving and is begging to return to work not only for a living but also for the sake of maintaining his mental state.

"I see containers and food marketing chains that are blown up by people, and we - with only one customer at a time - were not allowed to work," Malin Atias, "do not understand why they do not give us an outline - any outline. Let them give us one customer every hour or two. Even".

Kami Revivo, a 49-year-old resident of Ashdod and a single mother of five, is eagerly awaiting the opening of her jewelry store in the city.

"I'm not worked since the second closure. Trying to survive, getting help from parents, but there are sums that need to be transferred to suppliers and paying income tax and taxes. I do not understand why building nails, hairdressers and anyone who 'one-on-one' can open - and I do not. Keeps the purple character. "

Revivo adds that "I thought they would allow us to open the street shop, but so far we have not heard anything. As a self-employed person, I have no unemployment benefits. There is really no logic in their decisions, our hands are tied."

"Like dead cups"

Irena Rozidov, owner of Cafe Elvis in Be'er Sheva, is discouraged by the situation.

"The situation is very difficult," she says, "I pay NIS 7,000 in rent, and I sell coffee and croissants at takeaways, and put in maybe a hundred shekels a day. The situation is delusional and unreasonable - I'm not far from reaching a turnip."

According to Rozidov, "We do not help businesses in the country. They gave us an advance and thought that this would solve our problems, and they are very many - but it's cupping to die. I have a soldier daughter, and my luck is in the army, because I got into a situation where I have nothing to eat. Let people and businesses get into such a situation? "

Michelle Osedon, a textile business owner on the sidewalk in Be'er Sheva, is also desperate.

"I sit in the store all day crying," he shares, "from March I go from rejection to rejection. I have no income, zero income since the beginning of the corona. I opened the business, although I am not essential, in an attempt to earn something and bring food home."

He adds: "I get up in the morning without purpose and desire, and run away to the store just so as not to quarrel with my wife. The situation does not make sense at all, and a tax revolt should be done. The state threw us to the dogs. I am limited in the bank and I did not pay my suppliers. Sincerely. I do not deserve it, do we? "

Source: israelhayom

All news articles on 2020-10-27

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