While the economic program to help the current victims of the Ministry of Finance’s omicron and corona wave has been launched, it seems that the self-employed will have to wait until a plan is formulated that is in line with the agenda of the government and the Ministry of Finance. This will probably take two weeks, according to Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman in response to a question from MKs in the Knesset’s Economics Committee.
At the beginning of the heated debate, which dealt with the issue of economic aid to small businesses affected by the omicron wave, MK Bitton, chairman of the committee, said that the government has taken a series of welcome and good steps, but there are still disagreements. He added that the tax benefit should reach even the most vulnerable, and asked the Ministry of Finance to hear the business owners and then address. After a two-and-a-half-hour meeting in which the finance minister listened to the harsh allegations, he responded by announcing that he hoped that within two weeks an outline for a safety net for the self-employed would be agreed. In the summary of the meeting, Chairman Bitton called on the Minister of Finance to refine the assistance package and turn listening into action.
The director general of the Association of Hall Owners, Aviram Alon, said that the state actually closed when it recommended not to gather, adding that the hall owners are suffocated and there are those who do not have the money to send their children to kindergartens. The chairman of the Guides Association, Ganit Peleg, said that the guides could not be included in the plan written for the Ministry of Tourism. The director general of the Chamber of Inbound Tourism Organizers, Yossi Fattal, said that despite the good will, the money had not yet arrived.
The independent representative, Guy Golan, said that the restaurants are empty and the business owners are dying. The director general of the Association of Travel Agencies, Tali Laufer, added that the travel agencies did not receive a shekel and will not receive one, even though the Prime Minister called for avoiding travel abroad and the companies were flooded with cancellation notices. Nazia Lahav, Roi Cohen, said that there are many small businesses that do not submit VAT reports at all and need help.
MK Shlomo Qara harshly criticized the functioning of the government and slammed the finance minister: “In the name of the tens of thousands of businesses you abandoned and the hundreds of children you starved, I call on you to resign.” MK Inbar Bezeq, on the other hand, said that the government had managed to keep the economy open and that economic policy was responsible and would know how to compensate those who were harmed. Krai replied: “Only the rich received.”
Deputy Minister Abir Kara said the hearing should not have taken place, and his remarks caused a stir. He added that it is serious that the self-employed, who pay the salaries of elected officials, have to come to the Knesset time and time again and added that this should not happen again.
The chairman of the Histadrut’s Independent Forum, Rami Beja, said that if he had known there would be such a demand for discussion in the committee he would have sold tickets at the entrance. He added that the self-employed are losing faith and if they fall into the abyss of the state you will have to revive them. “You pulled the rope too much and soon it was torn and completely lost trust,” he said.
MK Uri Maklev said that the Minister of Finance likes to declare that everything is heaven, but to our detriment it has become a hell for the self-employed and working women who because their husbands are studying Torah want to re-educate them. MK Simon Davidson caused a stir when he said on the other hand that it is impossible to start throwing money without data.
Representative of the Inbound Tourism Association, Lena Drowczewski, said that instead of celebrating her son’s 4th birthday she is sitting here, she said that this son was an inspiration to Finance Minister Lieberman who said the cart should be taken out of the mud, and said guides did not work from early 2021. Worn.
The ultra-Orthodox MK was expelled
MK Moshe Abutbul slapped the finance minister with harsh words and said that the hatred and murder against the people will not pass quietly, and that the finance minister is a shame and disgrace. Following this, Chairman Bitton called him to order and removed him from the hall and asked the Knesset members to calm the debate.
However, MK Galit Distel Atbrian added that she was independent in the first waves and received assistance of over 100,000 shekels, and now the government is collapsing the economy. She slammed Lieberman for being anti-Semitic, and Deputy Minister Kara said in response: “There is a limit to the statements. People are watching us, shame. ” MK Yevgeny Soba added that the committee is a place for discussion and not for shouting and insults.
The Tel Aviv teachers’ representative, Tzameret Avivi Dvir, claimed that the Minister of Finance did not know her because Deputy Minister Kara was blocking access to him, and said in tears that until June 2021 people could breathe because there were grants. Deputy Minister Kara responded and called on Avivi Dvir to deal with her affairs and he too was removed from the discussion.
As mentioned, after about two and a half hours in which the finance minister sat down and wrote down the allegations, he replied that the intention was to help the ultra-Orthodox children earn a decent living and not be dependent on benefits, while others want to keep them in poverty. He presented the data and said that compared to what was in the previous government, the Israeli economy received a medal of excellence. “We have achieved these achievements thanks to a radical change in the policy of the previous government,” he said.
Minister Lieberman added that next week a discussion will begin on summarizing a safety net for the self-employed, and said that Deputy Minister Kara was the engine of the discussions and that he hopes that within two weeks an outline for such a safety net will be agreed. As for business, Minister Lieberman added that on February 25 there will be a complete picture and whoever needs assistance will receive according to the data. He said, “We are not going to abandon anyone. Anyone who needs help will get help. We enlarged the cake, look at what was in 2019 and compare it to 2021. “Thanks to the same end-to-end change in previous government policy, we have reached this point.”
Chairman Bitton summed up the heated debate and said: “The Economics Committee expects a complete and comprehensive move. The steps you have announced are welcome. Increase the package of work grants for minimum wage earners because they are workers and courses. And within that will bring a safety net to businesses that will reassure those who have really lost money. Whoever does an exercise on us that will not cry. I applaud what I have seen, for increasing aid to the elderly, but in Corona special acts are being done. Therefore, in conclusion, the expectation and request is to refine the plan you have made and increase the scope and immediacy for work grants and a safety net for businesses and an answer to the underprivileged populations and the elderly who have no pension. I know that when the Minister of Finance decides it happens, it is true that there are no data, but some of the actions are based on trust with the business. I urge you to perfect this package and thank you for your attention for two and a half hours to hear very difficult things. I have not seen a minister who listened for two and a half hours, and if listening becomes a deed, we can pargan for the move. “