PM Netanyahu promised Israelis on Sunday that he would not relent in his effort to help them cope with the economic hardships caused by the months-long coronavirus pandemic.
Netanyahu presided over a cabinet meeting Sunday with his ministers to approve a whole host of measures aimed at reducing the economic burden placed on Israelis who have lost their jobs or seen a major reduction of income due to the pandemic's woes.
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The ministers voted to approve the economic package a day after thousands demonstrated in Tel Aviv to demand more governmental assistance.
Speaking shortly before the vote, Netanyahu vowed that his administration would make sure that Israelis would not be left to their own devices and would take more such steps if necessary.
"Last Thursday, I announced โ together with the finance minister โ an economic safety net for the coming year. Today, we will submit the first step of this plan to the cabinet. We will declare an immediate advance to the self-employed and controlling shareholders," Netanyahu said shortly before the ministers approved the measures.
"This support, this grant, is not dependent on legislation and we have instructed that it be put into effect today. The button will be pressed and the money will reach accounts in the coming days. I also intend to closely monitor the implementation."
In a recent interview with Channel 13 News Saturday evening, Finance Minister Israel Katz asserted that "the demonstrators don't have a reason to protest," adding that "we haven't lost control over what's happening in the economy." However, the large turnout of demonstrators at Rabin Square was a sign of widespread discontent with the government's policies and management of the financial fallout of the pandemic.
PM Netanyahu, Finance Minister Present COVID-19 Economic Relief Plan
๐ด LIVE: PM Netanyahu and Finance Minister Katz Present Coronavirus Safety Net Program
ืคืืจืกื ืขื ืืื โโi24NEWS Englishโโ ื- ืืื ืืืืฉื, 9 ืืืืื 2020
Netanyahu continued by saying "Tomorrow, we will submit the rest of the plan to the cabinet; it will also reach the Knesset and undergo a lightning legislative process in cooperation โ I am sure โ with all members of the coalition.
"This plan will provide wage earners, the self-employed and business owners with certainty for the coming year, for the next 12 months, money directly to the account.
"I must say that on Friday, I again met with business owners and company representatives and I heard their needs and the problems that have arisen in the field, especially their concern that there will be so many elements and people that will fall between the cracks."
Netanyahu concluded his statement by saying: "For this need and to have an ongoing dialogue, I directed the immediate establishment of a joint forum, roundtables, together with the self-employed, together with the business owners so that we can resolve the problems. Together with you, I intend to reach maximum cooperation. This is what we need at the moment, for all of us to work to support this important plan. Each one in their own ministry will ease the bureaucracy and assist the independent businesses."
Despite successfully keeping the outbreak under control in the spring, Netanyahu's new government, which took office in May, has been accused by some of reopening the economy too quickly. That has caused a new spike in infections that are expected to put more people out of work as a result of renewed restrictions.
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