After last week the government's plan to lower the cost of living provoked much criticism and was defined as incomplete, the government will in the coming days begin work on the next plan, which will include complementary measures to the previous plan.
On Thursday, Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that the additional measures would probably be presented as early as the beginning of March.
The fact that the deficit fell in January to a level of only 3.3% of GDP due to exceptional tax revenues, gives a boost to decision-makers and allows the government to take further steps.
What about the episode?
Government officials do not rule out extending the benefit of a credit point even to parents of children aged 5-0.
This age group already has tax benefits of 2.5 credit points, but the plan presented last week does not improve the situation of the parents, so this is one of the options to consider.
Expenditures on children at these ages are high and include items like private kindergartens, pharma products and more.
Bennett and Lieberman announced: We will reduce taxes and reduce tariffs // Photo: GPO
In addition, additional assistance for low-wage earners up to NIS 6,200 will be considered.
In the latest plan, this population received an additional 20% for a work grant, but this is a relatively low amount - about 800 shekels a year on average, and the first step of the move will be only in July, so there is a good chance that the government will consider additional help for this population.
It should be noted that low-wage earners do not reach the tax threshold, so the benefit of credit points was not relevant to them.
The presentation of the compensation plan for businesses affected by the omicron wave will probably be postponed to the beginning of next month and will be presented together with the package of measures to lower the cost of living.
Despite the great pressure exerted by the events industry, who demonstrated on Friday in front of Foreign Minister Yair Lapid's home, the government is convinced that one must wait for full January data to make an informed decision.
"It would not be responsible to say that anyone whose income turnover is affected by more than 25% will be compensated, because we still do not know how many such businesses there are," a government source told Israel Today.
Beyond that, the ambition is to include in the March plan also the lowering of tariffs on fruits and vegetables, after the agreements have been reached with the farmers regarding the agricultural reform.
Meanwhile, this week the Economics Committee will discuss the outline of assistance to business owners.
The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday at 11 a.m. According to estimates, Finance Minister Lieberman is expected to present to committee members the outline of business assistance published two weeks ago.
"Where's the help?"
At the same time, protesters from the events industry continued to intensify their measures and blocked the entrance to Foreign Minister Yair Lapid's house with their vehicles on Friday morning, in protest of the economic plan presented.
Noam Levy, director general of the Association of Halls and Event Gardens, told Israel Today: "We are demonstrating in front of the house of two scammers, who promised to help and assist businesses and are doing the exact opposite."
Oren Buta, founder of the Independent Movement: "We demand the missing beat and say, give businesses the compensation before they collapse. We from the economic plan have seen nothing. Nice demands - nice fulfills."
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