The plenum rejected the proposal to abolish the tax exemption for the prime minister by a majority of 50 opponents against 41 supporters • Minister Amsalem: "We want to market Netanyahu as a hedonist and immoral"
The Knesset plenum rejected in a preliminary reading the bill submitted by MK Miki Levy to abolish the tax exemption for payments and services provided to the prime minister. In a roll-call vote, 50 MKs opposed the proposal over 41 supporters.
Photo: Knesset Channel
"In an unprecedented economic crisis, it is not possible for the prime minister to enjoy a sweeping exemption from paying tax on benefits he receives from the state coffers, including the maintenance of his private home on all its facilities," the proposal to amend the income tax ordinance said.
MK Levy said in the plenum: "Instead of treating a million unemployed, 80,000 businesses that have collapsed and entire industries in the economy that have been destroyed, the prime minister is busy with one thing - arranging tax benefits for himself.
People are losing their whole world, there has been no state budget for two years and the deficit is climbing far beyond NIS 150 billion.
The prime minister is simply disconnected.
He has no values, he has no morals and he has no integrity.
Therefore, a law is needed that will make a clear separation between his private residence and his official residence, it is time to make a clear boundary between Caesarea and Balfour. "
MK Levy added: "I do not expect to speak from the members of the Likud, but I turn to you, my friends in blue and white, this man does not count you anyway, vote for the just and moral proposal that will protect the public coffers."
The government was represented in the plenum by the minister who links the government to the Knesset, Dudi Amsalem, who addressed the allegations against Netanyahu.
"The prime minister works 24/7," Amsalem said.
"According to a calculation I made, he earns a net of about 35 shekels an hour. There are waiters who earn more and I am not even talking about the commissioner, Mandelblit and the judges.
But you want to market it as hedonistic and immoral.
Are you not ashamed?
This guy can make more than half a million dollars on one lecture.
There is a false journey here in which you have been leading the public for over a year. "
On the other hand, opposition leader Yair Lapid said: "A person who earns more than NIS 53,000 a month, and is a millionaire before that, comes to the Knesset time and time again to raise some more public money.
Leadership is measured by personal example.
Since 2015, all our Knesset members have been contributing all the salary increases that the Knesset gives itself, because there are people out there who are having a hard time - today more than ever.
At this time, Netanyahu is only busy spending a few more shekels, while failing to deal with the plague and the economy.
This is a terrible embarrassment for the Knesset and the State of Israel that we should discuss it at all. "