After a stormy week, during which he was once again attacked by left-wing activists, Economy and Industry Minister Nir Barkat appeared on the Patriots program on Channel 14 this evening (Saturday), and spoke openly about the demonstrations against him, monopolies, Galit Gutman's impeachment, the reform, and also the security threat.
Minister Barkat spoke about the violent attack in the north: "Unfortunately, this is not the first time I have been attacked. This is not a demonstration. A demonstration is standing with a sign, I have no problem with demonstrations. This was brutal violence. I arrived for a meeting with heads of authorities and businessmen. As soon as I came to enter, they prevented us, broke down a door, one of the people was injured and there were several Druze kitchen staff who prevented them from entering.".
He added and told about the event that got out of control: "In the end, they suspended the Druze workers. I spoke to them on Friday, they are waiting and don't know if they will be brought back. I told them if they have any livelihood problems, we will take care of them with other people in the north so that their livelihoods are not affected.".
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This is not the first time that Minister Barkat has been attacked by left-wing activists: "They are reaching zero range. Protesting is legitimate, but what is zero range for? Such a thing is unacceptable. Another person will come along who will think that under the guise of protesting violence is legitimate. There could be murder here.".
The minister said that despite the violence being used against him, the attorney general did not contact him at all: "The legal advisor did not ask me once. I was attacked three times. Rules were broken here in the name of protest, red lines were breached here, and it will take us a long time to put the genies back in the bottle.".
Regarding the storm caused by presenter Galit Gutman, who called the Haredim "bloodsuckers" on Keshet 12, the minister said: "Galit Gutman is people who don't understand that there are other people in the State of Israel. I live with the Haredim, I understand them. They are our brothers and they don't need to defend themselves. I was there, I know their needs. The amount of resources that go to the Haredim is nothing compared to the general public.".
Minister Barkat also addressed legal reform: "The majority of the Israeli people understand that reform is needed and we must not back down from the legal amendments that will make Israel a more democratic state. Dictatorship? Nonsense.".
Barkat also spoke about the issue of the cost of living and even revealed that there are those who are threatening him following his fight against monopolies. "The solution will be on several fronts. One is to allow European products to be brought to Israel. The concept says that what is good for Europe is good for Israel. Carrefour is the first swallow. We will increase the amount of products from Europe.
""The second axis is to fight exclusive importers and we are going to pass legislation imposing a fine of one hundred million shekels on an exclusive importer who tries to prevent parallel imports. The third thing is an all-out war on monopolies and cartels. I am using all the tools I have.".
On the security threat at Israel's borders: "The moment we are kidnapped by the proxy, we need to hit Tehran and nothing less. I'm not suggesting they sleep peacefully. I believe we need to get out of the box and not deal with their proxies in Syria, we need to go to the head. They plan to attack us from Gaza, from Syria, from Lebanon, from Judea and Samaria, that's the plan, and we need to convey a message to them that we see them.".
