Lapid: Tax benefits mean Teva must listen
Finance minister promises no decision made on Teva layoffs' scope, accuses opposition of harming economy by delaying natural gas development
Finance Minister Yair Lapid denied that the Teva company plans to layoff 800 employees, and promised that no unilateral moves will be made.
"I reminded the Teva executives that their relationship with the State of Israel is reciprocal," he said. "Teva's CEO assured me no decision was made on the scope of the layoffs in Israel."
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Lapid was speaking from the podium in the Knesset's first plenum of the winter session on Monday. Following a long and fierce debate, the plenum rejected five motions of no-confidence filed against the government.
Lapid also criticized the tax benefits awarded Teva in the past and said that he is "not at ease with these benefits and in any case, I have noted to the executives that the benefits given require them to listen to us and to everything we have to say about the layoffs."
Lapid also attacked the opposition factions' conduct, comparing it to the political situation in the United States, and accused the opposition of acting against the State and the voters' interests.
Additionally, Lapid addressed the natural gas issue, and accused the opposition of delaying the installment of a gas pipeline. "A Finance Ministry research estimated that delaying the gas by six months alone will cost the Israeli economy 6,000 potential jobs. You sent 6,000 people home," he said.
Lapid's statements were answered by an uproar in the opposition benches. "These are just more stupid remarks you'll end up having to apologize for," MK Mickey Rosenthal (Labor), and MK Tamar Zandberg (Meretz) shouted out: "This is just rubbish. Everyone seems to think they can say whatever they want. Have you no shame?"
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