Israel Katz
The nine-step plan includes grants for businesses and families and aid to the unemployed • Blue and White dismisses the move as a political stunt ahead of the March elections.
The global rating agency lauds Israel’s economic stability and high-tech sector, though criticizes its inability to pass a state budget.
The credit-rating agency says Israel’s AA- classification stands and gives the economy a “stable outlook” outlook, citing robust financial system, local savings and access to capital markets.
“I’m not willing to be held hostage to anyone’s political situation,” says Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz • Blue and White’s “blackmail” is “unacceptable,” says Israeli Finance Minister Israel Katz.
Shuttering the economy again will have severe repercussions, the Treasury warns, as the government gets set to vote on a High Holiday lockdown.
Allocations include $880 million for defense, $264 million for the disabled, and funding for education and aliyah programs.
Shaul Meridor, who resigned this week as head of the Finance Ministry’s Budget Department, accuses Minister Israel Katz of promoting a fiscal policy that “breaks every possible norm in the budgetary world.”
Israeli Finance Minister Israel Katz charges Budget Deptartment head Shaul Meridor of politically motivated attempts to sabotage government policy.
The plan extends unemployment benefits until June 2021 and offers grants for businesses, those fired or on unpaid leave and for recently discharged soldiers.
“The public is in desperate need of financial aid,” regardless of politics, says Finance Minister Israel Katz • Coalition deal sets Aug. 15 deadline for passing of biennial budget.
“All parts of Hezbollah, including the social, political and military wings, are terror organizations and they should be treated as such,” said Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry is arranging free commercial flights on El Al, Arkia and Israir for Israelis stuck outside the country as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.
