Everything is heaven?
On the gap between the composure that Lieberman transmits, and the heart and public pocket
Lieberman announced last week that there would be no changes to the economic plan and has suffered heaps of criticism.
According to him, "the absolute majority feels better," and at the macro level, the data with him.
But whoever is marked as the strongest man in the government knows that in the end he will be examined in one place - not on the rabbinical steps but in the banks' accounts
His dew
18/02/2022
Friday, 18 February 2022, 09:00 Updated: 09:13
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On Tuesday morning, Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman sat on the Knesset's Economics Committee, and for more than three hours was subjected to mounds of criticism.
The discussion convened by the committee's chairman, Michael Bitton from White Brush, was intended to deal with compensation for the self-employed and small businesses, which rose one after another to voice their distress and frustration; , After earlier that day Lieberman convened the socio-economic cabinet to discuss encouraging the ultra-Orthodox to go to work.
A confrontation between Lieberman and the ultra-Orthodox is hardly a headline, but the tears of Tzameret Avivi-Dvir, the teacher of the Tlan who slapped him, "Why be so cruel?
Open your heart "became a viral hit within minutes. The crying started in general because of Deputy Minister Avir Kara, but it symbolized the pain of the hall owners, hoteliers and guides, and anyone waiting for help from the state on the damage of the omicron. As throughout the debate, Lieberman was attentive , Did not respond and kept his composure.
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"Politically it is best to scatter money."
Lieberman at a meeting of the Economics Committee, this week (Photo: Knesset Spokeswoman, Noam Moskowitz)
The delay in compensation for the victims of the omicron and the widening protest over the cost of living have summoned to Lieberman some of these charged meetings with criticism and public outrage in recent weeks.
Earlier this month, an angry citizen tried to confront him while shopping in Birkenya, this week it happened to him as he was leaving a restaurant, and in News 13 it was reported that there had also been an increase in the level of threats on social media.
Shas' video against the "government starving children" talked about "Lieberman's prices," and the ultra-Orthodox MKs and Likud members compete over who will shout louder "anti-Semitic."
But the criticism does not remain on the opposition benches, but only grows closer and closer: in blue and white, labor, Meretz, and even individuals with a bad future - not happy with the steps it is leading and demanding drastic changes in the economic plan and package deal with employers.
Lieberman is not moved by the critics and blasphemers, and this week he replied that "everything is heaven."
At the macro level, the data with it: The Bank of Israel published the growth rate data, which exceeded the Treasury's forecasts and reached 8.1%, the sharpest in about 20 years, and the international credit rating agency Fitch confirmed Israel's status at A + level.
"Some people like to shout and it's easy to incite them, these are miserable people or noisy brats, disrupting them," he said in a conversation with Walla!
Regarding the random threats and incidents on the street.
"The vast majority of people feel better. We see it in the revenues and salaries that have gone up in entire industries - and they are the silent majority."
His predecessor, Finance Minister Israel Katz, accused him this week of stealing credit for the achievements of others, but Lieberman is convinced and convinced that changing the policy from end to end - abolishing closures, securities and grants - has changed the direction for the better.
Only the macro data do not speak to the heart or the pocket, and there is a big gap between the optimism and composure that Lieberman transmits, and the public mood that is in the midst of a wave of economic and consumer awakening, which also exacerbates moods in the Knesset and increases coalition internal pressure.
Since presenting the cost of living plan last week, the coalition as a pharmacy: Bitton Economics Committee chairman, backed by his party chairman Benny Gantz, was the first to swing the miracle of the uprising;
A few hours after the plan was introduced he announced that he would not be able to support it without reference to business and further assistance to minimum wage earners.
He was also joined by MK Naama Lazimi of the Labor Party, who demands, among other things, an increase in the minimum wage.
Lieberman at a meeting of the Economics Committee, this week (Photo: Knesset Spokeswoman, Noam Moskowitz)
A few more hours passed and the Meretz faction also sent an official letter of protest to Bennett and Lieberman.
"Yesh Atid's MKs are also flexing their muscles, and the two members of the Finance Committee - Nira Shefek Vladimir Blyak - are boycotting the discussions in protest of the delay in formulating an outline of aid for the self-employed." Full backing "for Lieberman and promised that the issue of the self-employed will be resolved" in the coming days. "
Just as Bish Atid promised last week, after he refused Lapid's demand to present a plan to the self-employed alongside measures on the cost of living.
But Lieberman is the one who dictates and sets the pace, alone.
"I do not know how to provide assistance without data and do not distribute checks without coverage. I said in advance that there will be another package at the end of February-beginning of March, and after the February VAT collection is over we can make decisions about the self-employed," he told Walla !. Santa Claus.
I understand that politically it is best to scatter money, it will not happen.
In the Ministry of Finance, if you want to be a good minister, you must conduct economic policy solely on the basis of material economic considerations. "
Lieberman is the one who dictates and sets the pace, alone.
Lapid and Gantz (Photo: Reuven Castro)
Despite his strong image, he has so far had good working relations with all party leaders and during the budget approval he also weaves a network of personal ties with MKs from all factions. The package deal for the economy, officials in the coalition accuse him of being predatory and "does not see the rain." "There must be opposition in the Knesset, these are the rules of the genre, because there are MKs who want prominence and attention," he says and does not sound particularly worried.
"I announced that there is a good plan, but they always leave some kind of elephant in the Knesset. A law does not enter the Knesset and the same thing comes out. It is clear that the Knesset must wave an achievement."
Objectively, he is one of the most powerful finance ministers ever in Israel - he controls the tap in government, and also the tap of parliamentary oversight through MK Alex Kushnir, chairman of the finance committee.
Its power is further exacerbated by the decentralized power structure of the Bennett-Lapid government, in which each partner lives in his own kingdom, and no powerful prime minister from a major party can impose or curb his policies.
He himself shuns the title attached to him, "the real prime minister," and claims that it is an invention of evil woods and plots that seek to poison the atmosphere.
"I work in coordination with the prime minister, and he is very noticeable," he says, and also denies that there are tensions with Lapid, or that he had any connection to the backup tweet in the middle of the week.
"This is the wisdom, to give a shoulder to the ministers and let them work. I too do not enter anyone's territory, and make sure to deal exclusively with the economic field. This is basic loyalty. There is mutual support from all of us. There are quite a few arguments, but we know how to do it matter-of-factly. ".
In the meantime, he seems to be trying to divert the fire in other directions: this week in particular it was important to convene the socio-economic cabinet to discuss ultra-Orthodox employment, and also to announce a new demand by MK Yulia Malinowski - that the government start promoting civil marriage solutions. The government knows that in the end it will be examined in one place, for better or worse - not on the rabbinical steps, but in the banks' accounts.
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Avigdor Lieberman
Cost of living
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