Olmert. 'I'll continue serving as finance minister'
צילום: עטא עוויסאת
Olmert: Reality proves Bibi was wrong
Finance Minister launches new attack on predecessor, says Netanyahu thought if government is privatized poverty problem would solve itself
I plan on continuing to serve as finance minister for a long time, Finance Minister Ehud Olmert said Thursday during the annual meeting of the Manufacturers Associations of Israel.
"In the next few months we will begin negotiations on new wage agreements with the Histadrut (labor federation), and I estimate that these agreements will bear fruit around April," Olmert said.
He added that "there is no doubt that the reorganizations and the cutbacks in the government's policy, led by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, were helpful to the economy, but the crucial factor which should guide us and which leads to a rise in the stock market and a jump-off in tourism and investments in Israel is the political arena."
'2005 was an exceptional year'
Olmert estimated that the annual growth in 2005 will stand at approximately 5 percent, and that the growth in 2006 will be 4 percent or more. He added that the extent of physical investments in the economy reached USD 6-7 billion in 2005, which constituted an all-time high in investments in the Israeli industry, he said.
Olmert defined 2005 as an exceptional economic year, stressing that the main jump-off took place after August, when the disengagement plan was implemented.
Referring to claims that he only cares for the rich, Olmert said that "I allegedly care for the rich because free competition and a modern economy are the key for growth. I also care very much and all the time for the poor because a severe and intolerable social reality has been created in our country and the vital elements of social solidarity are being undermined."
"The former finance minister (Netanyahu) thought that if we would privatize and reduce the government, the poverty problem would solve itself, but reality proves that he was wrong and our policy will be different," Olmert added.
