"You have lost your shame, you have lost touch with the people of Israel": Sharp reactions were received from many Knesset members and organizations after the plan to lower the cost of living presented this evening (Wednesday) by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
Shas chairman Aryeh Deri said after the press conference: "The frightened duo, who until two weeks ago said everything was heaven and demonstrated opacity to economic hardship, were pressured by the Shas campaign that ignited the public protest and media pressure.
They piled up some confusing measures designed to benefit only the 'good families' - a code name for continuing discrimination and deliberate harm to peripheral and ultra-Orthodox populations, which will continue to kneel under the cost of living.
"This is not the plan that will lower the cost of living! This is a sham designed to lower public pressure. Bennett and Lapid, your cruel division between 'good' and 'bad' is shocking. No child in the State of Israel must be hungry! You have lost compassion, you have lost shame, "You have lost touch with the people of Israel. Everyone has seen how much public pressure frightens them. We will not give up and we will not be silent until we really lower the cost of living and bring economic well-being to everyone."
Finance Committee member and coalition member Naama Lazimi said: "Not enough. The measures announced today are far from satisfactory. The Israeli public is facing a wave of price increases after many years of wage erosion and the reduction of the social safety net.
Bennett and Lieberman, Photo: Emil Salman
The chairman of Torah Judaism and former chairman of the Finance Committee, MK Moshe Gafni, continued: "Too little, too late.
For several months you have done indescribable damage, raising taxes, orders, laws, regulations, passing a bad budget and hurting middle-class families, self-employed and small and medium-sized businesses.
You hurt everyone, and now you're trying to fix some and want to get credit and praise for it.
Do not harm and do not benefit.
"You will eliminate everything you have done to date, the great damage you have caused to the public and the economy in Israel, and after that you will come up with attempts to talk about benefits."
Former Finance Minister Israel Katz: "Lieberman stands and lies without shame, trying to steal credit for the achievements of the previous government.
We helped those who were harmed and launched the Israeli economy. Lieberman did not help anyone and launched the tax increases and the cost of living, just a shame! "
Lieberman stands and lies shamelessly, trying to steal credit for the
achievements of the previous government.
We helped those who were harmed and launched the Israeli economy, Lieberman did not help anyone and launched the tax increases and the cost of living, just a shame!
- Israel Katz Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) February 9, 2022
"Demanding deeds here and now!"
At the same time, MK Uri Maklev added: "The Minister of Finance is once again harming the weak and enriching the rich out of persecution and alienation, preventing them from compensating for rising prices and the cost of living, ignoring the elderly, families with sick adult children and more.
I'm sure the protest wave will not keep quiet about injustices and abuse because they do not really want to lower prices.
But months ago he was all smug about a 'social' and 'benevolent' budget and was sure that everyone was applauding him and now begging for his life and announcing a change of attitude.
"All the top echelons of the government are rich and very resilient people who do not really understand hunger."
Moshe Gafni // Photo: Oren Ben Hakon //,
The Histadrut also commented on the economic plan: "This is a mockery of Rash, it is a plan to raise the cost of living and not to lower it. "The plan will harm the citizens of Israel, and no less so the workers. The new situation requires an increase in the minimum wage to NIS 7,000 immediately."
The Standing Together movement, which is leading the struggle to raise the minimum wage to NIS 40 per hour, responded: "What the public in Israel needs is not nice words and sleeves at a press conference, but to ensure that families living in poverty and the middle classes can earn a decent living."
MK Uri Maklev, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Advocate Roi Cohen, President of Lahav: "The independent public is tired of begging for their lives every time they find themselves in a state of emergency, whether it is an epidemic or a war.
An emergency does not differentiate between a self-employed person and an employee.
"Your job as a government is to maintain healthy, strong and stable independents for the sake of the state coffers, which in an emergency will provide a flow of certainty to businesses whenever you need it. We are tired of talk and promises demanding actions here and now!"
On the other hand, the president of the Manufacturers' Association, Dr. Ron Tomer, was more moderate in his response: "I thank the government for responding to our call for a reduction in the price of electricity and the reduction of tariffs on raw materials.
However, it is important to note that at a time when raw materials are rising by hundreds of percent and government costs are only rising, such as property taxes climbing, water and laws imposing more taxes, further steps are needed to lower production costs.
We will continue to sit down with the government to produce further steps that will lead to results for the benefit of the public. "
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