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Election Price: Step Forward, Two Backward Israel today

2020-12-28T20:25:59.677Z


| In the country The Knesset dispersed without passing a budget, government ministries remain sandaled - and the weak pay • The direct cost of holding the election averages around half a billion shekels, while various projects are desperate for funding - which will now be delayed further • Counting votes during Corona Photography:  Coco Ministry of Homeland Security The intensification is halted - but the pro


The Knesset dispersed without passing a budget, government ministries remain sandaled - and the weak pay • The direct cost of holding the election averages around half a billion shekels, while various projects are desperate for funding - which will now be delayed further •

  • Counting votes during Corona

    Photography: 

    Coco

Ministry of Homeland Security

The intensification is halted - but the process of appointing the commissioner will continue 

Following the political crisis, with the struggle in Corona continuing in the background, the work plans and projects in most areas of the operational bodies are operating at a low budget output.

This is reflected in the damage to construction plans, including a continued slowdown in the promotion of construction of new police stations in the Arab sector in general, as well as the halting of upgrade work of existing police stations. 

>> To read the first article in the series <<

All intensification programs have not been promoted for some time.

However, the process of appointing a new commissioner to the police is expected to continue as usual. Last week, with the announcement of the candidate, the Advisory Committee for the Appointment of Senior Officials in the Public Service began the process of examining his candidacy. approval of the interim government in accordance with the instructions of the Attorney General. 



even the prison service will continue to be affected most programs, such as renovating prisons to improve conditions of detention and the construction of new prisons, and programs to promote technology areas many did not start in the absence of a budget. Similarly, a Fire and rescue arrested most of the programs intensification designed to be included in an updated five-year plan. In addition, the absence of a budget is not finalized a new multi-year program firefighting and witness protection authority.



Itzik Saban



Ministry of Economy

Working in the fog, the proceedings are on hold

These days the Ministry of Economy is one of the most important execution arms in the Corona era, and on weekdays it is an arm of government support in industry and commerce.

As such, the firm offers routes to assist Israeli industry, business, commerce, export encouragement and more.

In addition, the firm is entrusted with routine operations such as standardization and supervision.



The Ministry of Economy believes that each assistance program that passes through the ministry will be budgeted separately, so it is not related to the special interest that has been created.

As for the current budget, the firm partners in the fog that has been created and is waiting to see what a day will bring. 



Of course, during the election period, new procedures for promoting trade agreements will be frozen, after the ministry in the previous government, under the authority of Minister Eli Cohen, succeeded in signing seven important new trade agreements and updating some old agreements, such as an important trade agreement with Canada.



Hayali Yaakovi-Handelsman 

Ministry of Finance

The cuts will be postponed, regulation will continue to cause disruptions

The Ministry of Finance emphasizes that the upcoming elections - the fourth in less than two years - involve a heavy economic price.

The direct cost of holding the election is on average around half a billion shekels, and the exact amount will be known only after the announcement of the election committee.

Even before a decision was made to go to the polls, the Treasury believed that a sharp cut of close to NIS 100 billion was needed in the next budget, in order to minimize the high deficit created by spending on the corona.

Now, without a new budget at least until mid-2021, spending in the coming months will be calculated according to an earlier budget, meaning the required cut will not take place during the election period and in the months that follow. 



The biggest concern is the damage to Israel's credit rating, given the lack of budget - contrary to the recommendations of international sources - and the political instability reflected in the high frequency of election campaigns.



At the same time, significant in-depth reforms recently conceived by the Treasury in response to the corona crisis - led by widespread cuts in the public sector (close to NIS 50 billion) and massive deregulation - will be postponed indefinitely, if at all. 



For example, the past government has been presented with two new reforms, which could have been significant in the long run with long-term implications for imports to Israel, and in particular for the Standards Institute.

The institute often constitutes a significant entry barrier to imports in the form of excessive, expensive and unnecessary requirements from importers.



The first decision was to set short schedules for the process of mapping all hidden standards in all laws and regulations, examining them in light of world-accepted standards and preparing them for the abolition of unnecessary standards unique to Israel.

The second decision, to move many products to a more friendly import route, which is based on affidavits and eliminates the need for laboratory tests.

The tests, in addition to their direct cost and the delays they produce, place a great deal of bureaucracy on importers and contribute to the cost of living due to the high cost of imported products and raw materials.



Another reform was the abolition of some of the agricultural production councils, the removal of import barriers and the abolition of the planning regime in favor of moving to a Western model of direct support for farmers.

As mentioned, all of these will be frozen at least until a new government is formed. 



Gled Zwick 

Ministry of Defense

One chief of staff and five ministers - the "swing" is stopped

It can be said that the fourth round of elections is almost burying the multi-year plan "Tnufa", after it was already in a humane state in the face of a lack of budget, the corona crisis and the lack of governance. 



The "swing" program sounds a bit like science fiction, and includes skimmers, robots, connectivity, innovation and multidimensionality designed to march the army forward.

The prime minister, who was also defense minister, seemed to support the plan presented by Kochavi, but like any work plan, it demanded funding, and quite a bit. 



Three consecutive election campaigns and the eruption of the corona prevented the approval of the budget, and the defense system is currently run on a 1-part budget, which requires approvals from the Accountant General in the Treasury on current military expenditures.

The fourth system, it seems, will exacerbate the situation even further, although the military is presenting a version according to which Kochavi's program was launched, in part by diverting internal resources within the military to components that were defined as critical. 



Beyond the budgetary aspect, there are a number of burning issues that will have to be postponed again as a result of further elections.

Thus, among other things, the Chief of Staff is interested in amending the draft law, which stipulates that the compulsory service be shortened to 30 months, since in his view, a 30-month service will seriously damage the IDF's readiness for security challenges.

Two rounds of enlistment have already been enlisted for 30 months instead of 32, and if there is no one to change that, the IDF warns that the manpower gap will stand at thousands in about two years. 



An equally burning issue that is unlikely to be timely is decisions , Whose delay threatens to harm the Air Force's fitness, and it is doubtful whether the given political situation can be approved in time. 



And if that is not enough, the solution does not seem on the horizon. , Benjamin Netanyahu, Naftali Bennett and Bnei Gantz.

It is likely that after the election another defense minister will be appointed, fifth in number, in a way that will create complete instability in the defense system. 



Lilac trail



Ministry of Justice

Stagnation in appointments, DIP reform will be completed

As for the Ministry of Justice, as Spokesman Mandelblit warned - stagnation in the appointment of senior officials causes difficulty in the proper management of the establishment on a number of issues - from the Commissioner of Police to the Chief Accountant General. 



Officials who have already been appointed but have not passed the government's approval - including the designated Director General of the Ministry of Justice, Adv. Shimon (Shimi) Brown, and the designated State Attorney, Adv. Amit Isman - will be delayed until the formation of the next government. C will oblige the transitional government to appoint Isman, because the locating committee has already chosen him.

As for the position of CEO, this may also lead to a male exchange, because it is a position of trust to which the minister appoints his confidant.



Elections will prevent judges from being appointed, and legislation, which was stuck even in the good old days of government, will be permanently stuck until the next government is formed, including the Ministerial Committee on Legislative Affairs.

Reforms promoted by the ministry are now also expected to be delayed and possibly even repealed, including the cannabis reform that was announced in all its glory by Minister Nissenkorn last November.

However, the DIP reform promoted by the Minister has already begun, so it will hardly be affected. So will the new civil law regulations that are expected to enter into force at the beginning of next year. 



Yair Altman

Ministry of Tourism

Restoration of all branches from the ground up

The tourism industry in Israel has improved significantly in recent years, with records of incoming tourists.

This year the Ministry of Tourism expected to see five million foreign tourists.

The frustrated hoteliers, especially those who do not belong to the big chains, have already realized that they will not be able to open soon, and many of them are already giving up and announcing that their hotel will no longer open.

The tourism industry in Israel, as in most countries of the world, needs to undergo rehabilitation, and for that to happen it needs a strong minister who is connected to meanings and understands the field.

To the credit of Orit Farkash-Hacohen can be attributed the success in everything related to the tourist islands, a significant success given the short period of time she is in office.

Beyond that it is difficult to rate it because it is a very short term in office.



The Ministry of Tourism is building a campaign for tourists from the UAE, one that will probably be postponed due to the additional closure we entered.

However, towards the spring, a very significant recovery is expected in the tourism industry, according to the opinion of most experts.

Whoever heads the Ministry of Tourism will have to show a lot of creativity in order to attract foreign tourists to Israel, along with consideration and support for the quarter of a million Israelis who make a living from this industry.



Shimon Yaish



Source: israelhayom

All news articles on 2020-12-28

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