Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich addressed the war today (Monday) at a meeting of the Religious Zionist faction in the Knesset - saying that the border in Lebanon needs to change.
""The State of Israel and the IDF, in cooperation with our American partners, continue to crush the enemy. War has its costs, but with every day of fighting we thwart, destroy, and weaken the axis of evil until it is overthrown with the help of God. Every day of fighting guarantees us years of security.".
He noted that "in Lebanon, too, the IDF continues to advance, expanding the buffer zone and providing protection for the residents of the north. On this front, too, alongside the great achievements, there are also prices. For businesses, too, there is another disruption to the routine of life, and unfortunately, there are also prices in casualties, including my son Benya, who, God bless him, miraculously survived and is recovering.".
Smotrich said: "Last week I was in the north at a meeting with the heads of the authorities of the confrontation line. I told them: 'Every time there is a boom of shooting, remember, along with the difficulty, that it is our guns and planes that are striking the enemy and ensuring security in the north for many years.' I also visited businesses and the heroic farmers on the border and told them: Last time we were forced to evacuate you, today we are evacuating the residents of southern Lebanon. We are rehabilitating and developing our northern communities, and destroying the terrorist villages in Lebanon.".
The Minister of Finance stated: "The current campaign in Lebanon must end with a fundamental change of situation: the Litani must be our new border with the State of Lebanon, like the Yellow Line in Gaza and like the buffer and the crown of Mount Hermon in Syria. We must not return to the reality of October 6, when the enemy was on our fences. We will keep him away, on all fronts, and create sterile security belts that will separate the enemy from our residents.".
Smotrich also addressed the handling of economic issues during the war. "The war also challenges the economy, and the employment market and businesses. As I said from the very beginning, the State of Israel will provide a safety net for everyone, just as we did at the beginning of Iron Swords, in the Northern Arrows and with the people of Kalavi. The safety net does not compensate 100 percent, but it will allow everyone to get through the challenging period together with 'head above water' and continue to grow the day after the war. We have done this in the past and it works. We are working hard and around the clock together with National Insurance to ensure that all employees receive their money before the holiday.
""This morning I received the Bank of Israel report from Governor Professor Amir Yaron. The numbers don't lie: Despite two and a half years of a long and expensive war, the Israeli economy is beating all predictions. The shekel is strengthening, the stock market is breaking records, and inflation is slowing down.".
""I say to the whole world: If this is what happens during the war, think about what will happen here after the war. Invest now in the State of Israel, there is no better investment than that.".
""I am happy that despite the war, which postponed some of our plans, we managed to bring a responsible and good budget alongside a large investment in security and a safety net for businesses and workers, including tax cuts for reservists, the middle class and immigrants, and a structural reform that will finally create competition in the banking market and is expected to save every family thousands of shekels a year. We are winning on the front lines, we are winning on the home front, and with God's help we are winning in the economy as well.".
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