News
Top minister criticizes PM's economic policy
Attila Somfalvi
Published: 02.08.12, 22:32
Comment Comment
Print comment Print comment
Back to article
16 Talkbacks for this article
1. Israel's economy is strong
Scott ,   Ramat Gan, Israel   (08.02.12)
It is NOTHING like Spain's economy which has 25% unemployment, high inflation & a poor credit rating. There are plenty of jobs.went up slightly atbecause some stopped looking. Netanyahu acted responsibly, even if it's unpopular.
2. War is certain, so right to budget for it
tambour ,   eilat   (08.02.12)
Life is a bed of roses; the thorns are there prick now and again Side shows in a jewish circus : Shas Beitenu, Kadima, Akhora, should be consigned to history with a change in the voting system to avoid need for coalition governments
3. american jews establish companies in israel!!!!
Me ,   Jerusalem   (08.03.12)
American jewry leadership should arrange that israeli products are bought and they should also invest in israeli companies and wih the billions they have, create jobs. Its simple establish some manufacturing or srvices company and hire local jews, from Haredim also, without the intention of making the highest profit ever. Small profit should be enough. Also lets have a HEBREW LABOR movement grassroot not government.
4. just the proposal of the cuts has cost Bibi the election
zionist forever   (08.03.12)
Bibi's decision to try and cut the debt by raising taxes was a brave one especially at a time when Bibi is weaker that at any time in the past 3 years thanks to a mix of being unable to get a deal on haredi enlistment & Daphne Leef out with her megaphone every Saturday night. After the failure to get a deal on the haredi draft he was left looking like a haredi stooge. When he said he wanted to raise taxes not only did he have the social justice mob against him but just about everybody else as well because nobody likes paying more tax. Even if the budget doesn't pass or Bibi goes back and decides not to raise taxes its all over because it looks like either Bibi tried and failed to raise taxes thanks to the fact the budget didn't pass or he looks like a man we cannot trust who will raise taxes if reelected. This has almost certainly cost Bibi the election unless something totally unexpected happens to increase his support again but what it does do is prove that unlike the other party leaders he is responsible and thinks about the country before his own career. If he had wanted to do the popular thing he would have raised income tax for the top earners to something like 55% -60%. The left would have loved it, the evil tycoons paying all the tax. Those evil tycoons of course would have left the country with all their money but it would have been a vote winner. Sadly looks like the next government will be led by the far left Shelly Y along with the super left Meretz, king of opportunism Yair Lapid and the remains of Kadima. Likud won't get a look in unless Labor just can't get the numbers. I just hope she doesn't destroy the economy as she tries to be the queen of social justice and endangers the country by doing things like wanting to give up the Golan to the post Assad government to prove to the Syrian people Israel wants peace with you.
5. Weird article why the Likud's MK name is not mentioned?
Ari ,   Jerusalem   (08.03.12)
Another leftist intent to make media terrorism
6. Replace Steinitz with Kahlon!
Katamon ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (08.03.12)
These cuts are necessary, but in order to get back to faster growth the Israeli economy needs both more industry and more competition. Given what he has done with other things, Kahlon might do a better job here than Steinitz.
7. There is no money in the till..either you learn to work and
Al   (08.03.12)
save or you will end up being screwed blued and tattooed. Thats how it work kiddies. I betcha lots of ya will be on a diet and the garbage dumps will be less full. You are going to cherish everything and anything you have. The geivah will come to an end and who knows maybe the 'learners' and even the 'fakers' will go out and get a job. Wouldnt that be change..Yes there is a god.
8. More lies.
michael Pielet ,   israel   (08.03.12)
Pure leftist propaganda, lies and distortions! Who said, what?
9. to no, 4 whishfull thinking from a leftist
(08.03.12)
10. Without the costs of occupation and subsidized settlements..
Alex   (08.03.12)
...there would be no need for budget cuts and reliance on American charity. Israel needs to prioritize on where the available tax monies are best spent, and more importantly, where they are wasted on a lost cause.
11. Re: American Jews ( # 3)
Ellen ,   Israel/USA   (08.03.12)
As a resident of both countries it is so nice for you to suggest things that only show you don't even know you OWN country. a. American Jews are constantly buying Israeli. Have you looked recently in an Israeli supermarket or at the stores in the mall? Lets also get ISRAELIS to buy ISRAELI!! b. There has been a Jewish Labor only organization in existence for years. I haven't had a non-Jewish worker in my home EVER--even when I had to "import" and pay for a Jewish company to send construction people from Jerusalem--to Netanya. Problem is some Jews won't do the "dirty " work so it isn't always easy to find and Jews only work for legal wages. Israelis have encouraged the rise of non-Jewish labor--can't blame the government.
12. 9
zionist forever   (08.03.12)
Why does believing Bibi is going to lose the election because of the tax cuts make me a leftist or even want it to be so?
13. Again Attila Somfalvi creating his antigovernment leftist
Ari ,   Jerusalem   (08.03.12)
terrorist media writing. A shame that Ynetnews doesn't control the quality and contents written by some authors. Why is the Minister from the goverment'name not mentioned. It is not about liberty of expression, that is fine with me, it can be right or left with a content, But this article is a shame. The cuts and taxes proposed by the government aren't as terrible as some people in demagogical way want to make believe. Some mesures are not popular but are responsible and necessary. Or else we will be heading like some countries in Europe to bankrupt. And no we are not as Spain yet we are very far from that. Not like this phantom Minister wants to make believe. There is not such a deficit as this suposed Minister is saying. Every body knows that the Israeli economy is a solid one. If that would't be so. The monetary fund and all other world wide financial istitutions would have made there critics and qualifications, and degradation already. As far as we know Israel is not a candidate to be downloaded in his credit qualification in the International comunity. But this shameful piece of garbage is really reprehensible. And Attila Somfalvi cinism shows no limit. and Is disrespectfull to the readers. This Minister doesnt exist it's his invention, that is why no name is given. SHAME,SHAME,SHAME ATILA SOMFALVI and SHAME ALSO TO YNET NEWS
14. To the Right who always blame the left: Cut the crap!
David ,   Karmiel, Israel   (08.03.12)
Fischer, the man appointed t by Netanyahu has criticized his policies and who knows better than Fischer! The cuts are inevitable but the mismanagement of the last six months was avoidable. I am not a leftist and I have nothing against development in places like Ariel but what is unforgivable is the amount of money being spent on the settlements deemed illegal even by this Government! Couple this to the pouring of money into the coffers of the Haredim, a fact that cannot be denied even by the most staunch rightists, and the NIS14 billion deficit is the result! Bibi Netanyahu, the "Great Money Magician" has really screwed up this time and the only reason is his fear of losing his power!
15. #6: Why, do you thinks that Steinitz is the real MOF?
David ,   Karmiel, Israel   (08.03.12)
Steinitz has no financial background whatsoever. His Doctoral Thesis was entitled "From A Rational Point of View". All he really is Netanyahu's mouth piece and the he is the Minister of Take the Blame for Bibi! As for Kahlon, well he has certainly reduced the price of Cellular calls which has resulted in the total breakdown of customer service. Try to phone Orange lately? Good luck! As for Bibi, well, giving into Shas so the defense budget would not be cut really shows the values of this government. Let's see what happens to Bibi popularity when the first missles land on Tel Aviv. This time the North and South will not be the only places to bear the brunt of the war!
16. 13
zionist forever   (08.03.12)
A strong economy is an economy that can and does pay its bills when you borrow and can't repay you end up like Greece nobody will bail out Israel. Sadly the left are only interested in social justice rather than economics and think nothing in the country matters more than social justice and they don't care where the money comes from as long as the government accepts their demands. . I would have liked to see Bibi substantially increase the prices on alcohol & cigarettes and petrol ( luxuries ) Increase VAT but make some foods and children's clothing VAT free. Wouldn't lose to much in VAT revenue and what is lost in VAT is made for in other through sale of luxury items. Do that and Bibi could have said I have to raise the taxes but look I am making efforts to protect the poor by making these things VAT free. You wanted to do something about the harden before Mofaz pulled out the coalition that would have been possible but now its not. When Bibi had Kadima in the coalition if he needed to the end Kadima were quicker to quit that Shas and so now Bibi can't take on the haredi or Shas quit bringing down the government.
Back to article