The PM said ”something important” is also happening in Arab countries, ”and I believe that one day this will perhaps help us in our relations with the Palestinians. Recent Palestinian public opinion polls are not encouraging, and the Palestinian leadership is continuing the incitement. There is no progress because prime ministers before me offered things that it is hard to believe were offered, but sooner or later the Palestinians will have to give up on the right of return and recognize the State of Israel.”
”We will not achieve stability and security if we accept the simplistic and dangerous solution of `leave the territory, close your eyes and hope for the best`. In this case we will get either Hamas, or ISIS, or both. This is exactly what happened in Gaza. Peace is not achieved out of weakness, but out of strength.”
The argument between Netanyahu and Herzog erupted in the midst of a debate on the war on poverty, which was held at the request of 40 MKs. Earlier this week the National Insurance Institute released its annual poverty report, which found that 1,709,300 people – some 22% of the population – including 444,900 families and 776,500 children were living below the poverty line.
In his initial remarks, the PM addressed the poverty rate and said that since 2009, under his leadership, there has been a steady and continual decline in the poverty rates among families and children, as well as a decline in the GINI index of inequality.
The prime minister noted that the year 2014, in which poverty rates increased, was an exception. He attributed this to the cancellation of child allowances in 2013 by the former government.
(Of course, this “former government” was led by someone very close to Prime Minister Netanyahu, namely Prime Minsiter Netanyahu — JP)
”The facts speak for themselves,” he told the plenum.
Netanyahu said the government has taken a number of steps to reduce poverty, including increasing child allowances and introducing a new long-term savings plan for children in need, increasing the minimum wage and increasing pension supplements for the elderly.
”I am talking about data relating to people and I believe that our policies will have a lasting impact on children, on the elderly, on the families whose heads are struggling to provide for their households with dignity, and these families will feel the difference in the coming year because we have taken measures and we will continue to fight against poverty. It is a struggle for all of us,” he said.
Turning to PM Netanyahu, opposition leader Herzog, said: ”In 2007 you vowed, and I quote, `within one term in office every average person will have increased his monthly salary by a third, and poverty will decrease by 80%`. You also promised: `I will eradicate poverty in Israel within three years`. Six years, eight months and 17 days have passed since then, and you, Mr. Economy, did not make good on your promise… Poverty only intensified during your term.”
”You want to be prime minster of cyber and fear and continue with poverty for the masses,” Herzog added. ”We have a prime minister that doesn`t care about the citizens. Did you watch `Magash Hakesef` [a three part documentary about the corruption of the Israeli economy]? Listen to the person who was once your advisor – Prof. Yaron Zalika. See what he says about how the strong state transfers its money to those who are connected and how a citizen feels when he sees he is being robbed in broad daylight, and has nothing to do about it.”
Herzog asked ”Why is it under your watch that the poor are getting poorer. Maybe your honor Mr. Economics can explain how a month after the budget is approved your government transfers billions to interest groups without any logic. Maybe you don`t want fewer poor people – because if you did, you would take action to raise the salary of conscripts, raise the budget for government subsidized medicine, tend to manageable housing prices, and lower the cost of living. But you claimed you didn`t have time for it. How do I know? Because you showed us that when you want something, you get it – apparently you didn`t really want to lower the poverty rate. Atonement will only come when you vacate your position as prime minister.”