Rage in Knesset over decrees: "Bad smelling money"

Whoever thinks the financial decrees were passed in the Knesset on Monday without sharp voices of protest, is mistaken. Though the voices of protest were head especially from the opposition's side (which is enlarged again), the voices of the coalition members was almost unheard.

The MK's of Atzmaut, Shas and Yahadut Hatorah – were silent. Each one got to his office's pocket what he demanded, and the "fuel" did its share. MK Miri Regev was almost the only brave one who dared criticize the new economic plan.

Here are some of the voices which were heard on Monday at the Knesset, which gathered for a special session.

"We sat and shouted that Europe is having problems, that we mustn't go for a bi-yearly budget, but no one heard us," says MK Avishai Braverman from Avodah, in a speech which seems like the opening for the next election campaign. "But they said "rely on me"", he continued, tapping his chest to illustrate.

"When Trachtenberg came and we asked where the money is from, the Finance Minister told us "I'm cutting down on the security budget". And there was a drama between the Finance Minister and the Minister of Security. I won't relate to how each one of the sides talked of the other… but the Minister of Security doesn't "count" the Finance Minister, and everything collapsed, since the Prime Minister doesn't really believe in changing the steering wheel with 180 degrees.

Therefore he agreed with the chairman of the financial committee on small changes, but didn't agree to change his ideology. The middle class will pay indirect taxes, the strong groups won't pay because they lead the market. We are for a change! And that's what the next election campaign will be about! When the "Avodah" has a clear standing, and the "Likud" has a clear standing…"

MK Meir Shitrit from Kadima wanted to remind that as a result of the Prime Minister's policy: "The poor became poorer, the rich got richer and the government is still holding its own. The law for minimizing the deficit… the government seemingly decreased the deficit… I opposed increasing the deficit because when you increase it from 3.5 to 5 or 6 it's easy, on the other hand when the government wants to minimize the deficit it throws everything on the public.

"People hardly finish the month, the middle classes and not only the poor. The dimensions of poverty are the largest in the OECD. These are working people! But those who don't earn enough to make a living, now the government is increasing their taxes. And the companies? No! And I ask – Ribono Shel Olam, why is the companies' blood redder? What tragedy would occur if the companies' tax would increase by two or three percent? Why not raise it?"

Even the young MK of Kadima, Yuval Tzelner, made his voice heard: "We promised an equality of burden, the Keshev committee was dispersed… We promised residential solutions for young people, but the prices of apartments are continuing to soar. We promised to find a solution for the expense of living, but now we are raising the VAT. The new measures are beyond what we can bear, and they bear no message. The honorable Finance Minister is not here – I hope he will hear. The Finance Minister must put an end to the policy of the finance clerks and managing of the country's budget through the hole of a penny. One must be creative in face of reality, and think outside the box.

"I fear that the decrees which we are asked to confirm, and which we will oppose with all our might are only the tip of the iceberg, we will yet miss the decrees of the first Netanyahu government".

MK Julia Shmalov-Berkowitz asks to protest, just for example, about the prices for entering… Caesarea. "Because of the hareidim? Because of the settlements? That's one big lie! We reached a situation where a family in Israel, a normative family….

singles, because they don't have a financial ability to form a family. Members of the coalition and the opposition, we came as emissaries to serve the citizens of Israel, and if we don't start taking care of the expense of living, this country is living on miracles. The time has come for us all to wake up and do something".

"As a member of the coalition I must vote for the decrees," said MK Uri Orbach from Habayit Hayehudi. "Therefore if I shout hard there will be too much of a gap between my vote and my shouting. Minimizing the deficit means to take from the minus, finally it's from the same pocket… I will relate to the words of Netanyahu about the fact that there are no free meals. Money for teachers, for higher education, and for all this good, and now someone has to pay the bill, as if it's our fault. Honorable Prime Minister, the things you did are good, you don't have to apologize for them. This expression of "no free meals" is insulting, as if we wasted the country's money and now it's been decreed on us to pay. This is an expression which the Prime Minister tells his subjects. One has to find another expression which is not insulting.

"Not long ago we marked the days of mourning over the Beis Hamikdash", mentioned MK Orbach, and told about Aspasianos Caesar who eventually became the Roman Caesar and is known as one who placed taxes on public services. Titus Caesar, in contrast, didn't like placing taxes on the poor who needed public services and criticized it. When the first coin from taxes arrived, Aspasianos handed it to Titus and said "smell, does it have a smell?" "No," said Titus. "From here was born the expression "money has no smell". But it's known that Aspasianos also said, "but it still has a bad smell".

"It's only one percentage more, one more tax on public services, but it still has a bad smell. If we must, remember two things when you bring the taxes: money has no smell, but know that at the end of the taxes you're taking from the poor, VAT and no matter what, at the end the money still smells bad. And it has a cost. And be very careful of taxes which you place on the most miserable poor".

MK Ahmad Tibi also had words of criticism, which were directed, how not, to the subject of settlements. "We sat and heard from the Prime Minister that Israel's situation is good. A few days ago we received the message that probably all we heard was a smoke screen because the economy is in a bad state, there is a decrease in income and therefore you have to add financial decrees. The code word is "taxes". Seemingly, one percentage, but who suffers from it? The middle class and the weak strata.

"Raising the VAT will finally bring to raising the prices of medicine, the decrees will cause that people will not allow themselves doctors' visits. One blow after the next. In the state of Israel there is poverty all over the place. In Tel Aviv, in Chedera, in Um el Fahem, where isn't there? In Tapuach, in Gush Etzion, there is no poverty. They are free eaters with the support of the Prime Minister. The investment in you brings to deepen the poverty inside the Green Line".

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!