Izraeli PM Netanyahu’s Remarks at the Start of the Weekly Cabinet Meeting
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this morning (Sunday, 7 April 2013), made the following remarks at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting:
„Good morning.
In recent days, we have witnessed several shocking cases of assaults on the elderly, including Holocaust survivors. We will not tolerate this. We will use the full authority of the Government of Israel to prevent such criminal acts and to severely punish the assailants.
Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch will brief us today on the steps being taken by the Israel Police to prevent the recurrence of such phenomena. We have a deep obligation to the elderly in general and to Holocaust survivors in particular, first of all to their welfare and also to their security.
Today, the Cabinet will approve a proposal formulated by myself and Finance Minister Yair Lapid on the addition of NIS 50 million to the social welfare fund for the elderly and for Holocaust survivors, and I asked that an additional NIS 15 million be allocated for medicines, to make things easier for them.
These people survived the horrors of the Holocaust. They participated in Israel’s wars. They built the State of Israel; they are witnesses to our revival. Our obligation to them is that we will do all that is necessary. We are giving today and we will add whatever is necessary.
Thank you.”
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Launch of Pilot Project for Government Smart Table
At the second meeting of the 33rd Government today (Sunday, 7 April 2013), the Government Secretariat will launch a pilot project for a „smart table”, at the end of which a computerized system will replace the piles of papers that ministers receive at every meeting. The system, which is composed of a tablet for every minister and a central computer, is based on advanced touch technology and includes the agenda for Government meetings, proposed decisions, PowerPoint displays and all material that is usually given to ministers in print form.
The „smart table” will allow ministers to read materials, vote and register for discussions, and transfer information to each other. It will also be possible to implement real-time changes in draft proposals in keeping with decisions made during the discussions.
Government Secretary Tzvi Hauser, who led the transition to computerized systems for the work of the Government, said, „This move completes the process of creating an advanced digitized work environment for the Government. It is designed to foster greater efficiency and afford ministers better access to materials, and save on paper and maintain the environment. Israel is a technology leader and it is fitting that Government meetings be conducted with advanced tools as befits developed countries.”
