Special recess session
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Knesset discusses wave of layoffs
Only 25 MKs take part in special plenum debate on deteriorating economic situation with opposition MKs aiming harsh criticism at PM for 'mistaken economic concept'
The wave of layoffs
was at the center of a special recess discussion at the Knesset on Wednesday. Yet only 25 Knesset members were in attendance, the majority of which were from the opposition.
Opposition Leader Shaul Mofaz (Kadima) criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stating: "Netanyahu knows how to make promises." He then went on to use various metaphors to denounce Netanyahu and his economic strategy.
Pink Slip
Yair Hasson
Israel Employment Services figures reveal that some 16,084 people were fired in July, a three year record high. 7,497 of people laid off were men and 8,587 were women
"With Netanyahu life is one big picnic," Mofaz claimed. "According to his conception, our situation has never been better – a real Bibi in wonderland."
Deputy Finance Minister Yitzhak Cohen responded on behalf of the government and said: "The global economic crisis that broke out at the end of 2008 is felt here as well. The developed economies have yet to recover… Israel registered a high growth rate. The Israeli economy developed at a higher rate than the US or Euro bloc countries.
"In addition to the growth rate, there were also positive developments in the job market. Unemployment rates are at their lowest historically speaking."
Cohen further said that the current situation in the EU could lead to another global crisis and obligates responsible fiscal conduct. As a result of the crisis the State's income from taxes was down and the deficit surged.
The Knesset plenum convened under the headline of "the deteriorating economic situation in Israel under Netanyahu's government," after a request submitted by MK Dalia Itzik (Kadima).
Itzik said before the meeting: "For three years the minister for super-economic strategy Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented false presentations on the situation of the Israeli market. Now Netanyahu's mistaken concept is collapsing and the middle class is paying the price. The Knesset needs to convene swiftly and hand the government a red card."
MK Ronnie Bar-On (Kadima) protested over the fact that the Knesset convened without one minister in the government in attendance. He said they were "spitting in the face" of the public.
The number of layoffs reached a three year high in July, with some 16,084 people fired from their jobs – the highest number since 2009, figures released by the Israel Employment Services revealed on Tuesday.
Some 7,497 of those who lost their jobs were men while 8,587 were women.
Tel Aviv saw the largest number of layoffs (1,072) with Jerusalem coming in at second place (803).
The market saw 211,617 job seekers at the end of July, a 7% increase from June and a 5% hike from the corresponding month in 2011. Some 24,573 people registered as job seekers with the Employment Services in July.
