Shteinitz: "It is important to combine the ultra-Orthodox labor market"

Finance Minister Yuval Shteinitz, one of the only ones who did not join the festivities of "Equality in burden", expressed his view at an economic convention yesterday (Monday), in his words: "It is quite obvious that any Jew who has reached the age of 18 has to serve and protect Israel, but if you ask what the most essential and urgent need of the country is – it is first of all integrating the hareidim into work.

"If in the next 10-20 years there won't be a process of enlarging the participation of hareidim and Arabs in the working force, the economy will be harmed, and the economy will not grow by 4% and more", the Finance Minister asserted. He added that there is no value for forced service for hareidim in different works, which in the long run, will cost more than it will contribute.

At the end of his words, Shteinitz warned the members of the Plasner committee, towards giving their final recommendations in this issue, that they will not be drawn into cheap populism and not decide according to what sounds and rings well in the media. "The most just solution in my eyes is a general service for all in the IDF, but the right solution is integrating the hareidim into the modern economy – for their sake and ours. Any plan which will be drawn up must be reasonable and rational, one which contributes to the Israeli economy, and not a plan at the start of which people clap hands, and afterwards it becomes apparent that its reward does not justify its effectiveness", he ended.

More on the issue: Keshev. This is how the Plasner committee crashed. Attorney Yaakov Weinrot withdrew

Last week Shteinitz expressed similar views on the issue, in a convention which was reviewed in "The Marker" site, and said: "One has to remove from the table the idea that we will force the hareidim to stop being hareidim. The question is how do we enable them continue being hareidim, and solve the solutions of equality of burden. If the haredim will not serve in the next 10-20 years – it won't make the IDF crash, it will endure. But if the hareidim won't take part in the working force, and won't join the circles of the economy and continue being an economic burden, this is a situation which cannot continue.

It is right that equality of burden is an exciting topic, we would like their sons and ours to risk their lives together. But the central question is integrating the hareidim first of all into the working and living circle – so as to take them out of disgraceful poverty. Today we say to them – if you don't integrate into the army, you won't work either".

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!