HEADLINES FROM THE IZRAELI HEBREW PRESS
HA’ARETZ
1. ROMNEY ATTACKS OBAMA: CRITICISM ON ISRAEL STRENGTHENS ITS ENEMIES
Republican candidate did not restrain himself and launched barbs at the President during his speech in Jerusalem, while Sheldon Adelson and settlement leaders sat in the audience.
2. Health and education to be hit too.
GOVERNMENT TO APPROVE TAX HIKE AND BUDGET CUT PACKAGE TODAY
3. MOSSAD DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR SUSPECTED OF FINANCIAL IRREGULARITIES
(…).
MA’ARIV
1. DESPITE SANCTIONS, IRAN ACCELERATING URANIUM ENRICHMENT according to intelligence reports reaching the West. Netanyahu passed a similar message to Romney.
YEDIOT AHRONOT
1. (…).
ADDITIONAL [ECONOMIC] EDICTS ON THE WAY
Today: Fight in Government over tax hike and ministry budget cuts. (…).
2. SENIOR MOSSAD FIGURE TO STAND TRIAL
Department director suspected of financial irregularities.
YISRAEL HAYOM
1. Today: Government to approve the [financial] decrees. Finance Minister Steinitz: „Facing world catastrophe
– we are deploying an Iron Dome to protect Israel’s economy.”
TAXES AND CUTS
VAT to rise by 1% to 17%. Income tax to rise by 1% on salaries of over NIS 8,801 a month and by 2% on those earning over NIS 67,000 a month (…).
2. FRIEND IN „JERUSALEM, THE CAPITAL OF ISRAEL”
Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney warmly received in Jerusalem, which he defined in his speech without hesitation as „the capital of Israel.” (…).
3. POLICE RECOMMEND: INDICT MOSSAD DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR Storm in undercover organization following publication in Yisrael Hayom. State Attorney investigators: „There is prima facie evidentiary basis against the senior figure suspected of financial and administrative malfeasance.”
WALLA!
1. CRITICISM IN GOVERNMENT REGARDING CUTS: „TAKE FROM THE STRONGER SECTORS”
Cabinet convened to approve [budget] cut program on background of criticism even from governing party.
NANA10
1. CABINET DISCUSSING CUTS: NO FUN, BUT ESSENTIAL”
The Cabinet has convened in order to vote on [economic] edicts and [budget] cuts proposed by Finance Ministry. Steinitz claims that it is a vital move to protect the economy. Labor chairwoman attacks and calls on ministers not to support Finance Ministry’s proposal.
[Headlines for Walla! and Nana10 are from their websites as of 11:30.] ______________________________
SUMMARY OF OP-EDS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS
Two papers discuss various economic issues regarding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s and Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz’s decision, which is due to be voted on at today’s Cabinet meeting, to enact a series of steps including raising VAT and income tax, raising taxes on gasoline, alcohol and cigarettes, imposing a surtax on high income earners and an across-the-board budget cut at Government ministries:
Yediot Ahronot says that Government, „which increased expenditures and lowered taxes, in contravention of all the recommendations it received from the IMF, the OECD and Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer, is more than a little to blame for the consequences: State coffers are suddenly empty and the Government is obliged to salvage the situation,” by enacting the abovementioned steps. The author believes that, „The problem is those who will suffer are mainly the innocent citizens. It is they who will pay more taxes, earn less and be forced to cope with fewer Government services.” The paper concludes by reminding Prime Minister Netanyahu and its readers, „If there were 18 ministers in the Government, not 30, we would save NIS 120 million.”
Ma’ariv suggests, „It is possible to understand and accept the decision to raise VAT,” but adds, „What cannot be accepted at all is the raising of income tax rates. The decision unjustly hits at those who pay taxes and at growth, and the income supplement from this decision (NIS 1.2 billion) could have been derived from alternative sources that Netanyahu fears to touch.” The author explains: „Thus, for example, the absurd VAT exemption in Eilat should have been cancelled long ago, saving NIS 450 million, but the Mayor of Eilat, who is close to the Likud, has done excellent lobbying. Alternatively, it could have been possible to consider partially cancelling the tax exemption for advanced training funds, thus saving NIS 2.4 billion. But here they are afraid of clashing with Histadrut [labor federation] Secy.-Gen. Ofer Eini.” The paper contends, „Not having any choice, the Prime Minister has chosen the relatively easy solution of hitting at wage-earners. This is painful in the short-term but Netanyahu is apparently counting on our short memories. A mere two weeks ago, does anyone remember?, there were those who set themselves alight due to the cost of living.”
__________
Yisrael Hayom discusses Mitt Romney’s meetings with Prime Minister Netanyahu and notes that candidate Romney, like candidates George Bush and Barack Obama before him, knows that, „The road to the White House runs through Jerusalem, among other places.” The author notes that all three candidates were warmly welcomed, „because it is clear the Israel-US relations need not depend on the party affiliation of the President,” but suggests that the congruity of views between Romney and Prime Minister Netanyahu might make some people uncomfortable.
BreuerPress info
