Zelekha Unveils Economic Plan, Slams Political System
Translated & summarized from Behadrei Haredim by baba
Professor Yaron Zelekha, chairman of the "Reservists and Economic" party, presented a new economic plan and criticized the political system. He stated his party would only join a government promoting universal conscription and appointing him Finance Minister, refusing to support Netanyahu or Eisenkot if they rely on Arab parties. Zelekha's plan includes canceling import tariffs, dismantling monopolies, lowering VAT and income tax, and privatizing infrastructure projects. He argued the current "bloc concept" costs Israelis NIS 30,000 annually.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Yaron Zelekha presented an economic plan, criticizing the political system and proposing reforms.
- Zelekha's party will only join a Zionist government that implements universal conscription and appoints him Finance Minister.
- He refused to support governments led by Netanyahu or Eisenkot if they depend on Arab parties.
- The plan aims to lower living costs by canceling tariffs, breaking monopolies, and reducing taxes.
- Zelekha proposed privatizing infrastructure projects, including new train lines and hospitals.
- He claimed the current political "bloc concept" costs Israelis NIS 30,000 annually.
Professor Yaron Zelekha, chairman of the "Reservists and Economic" party, presented a comprehensive economic plan on Thursday, launching a sharp attack against the political establishment. Zelekha stated that his party would only join a Zionist government that promotes universal conscription and appoints him as Finance Minister. He clarified that he would not help Benjamin Netanyahu or Gadi Eisenkot form a government of 61 mandates if it relies on Arab parties.
"The bloc concept costs the public NIS 30,000 annually," Zelekha declared, inviting Bezalel Smotrich and Naftali Bennett to an economic debate. He directly addressed the Prime Minister, saying, "Bibi attacks because he knows that when I am Finance Minister, the public will understand that life here could have been cheaper over the last 20 years. The choice is not 'Bibi or not Bibi,' but capital-rule or your children."
Central to his plan for dismantling monopolies and lowering the cost of living, Zelekha proposes the immediate cancellation of all tariffs and import quotas, the dissolution of production councils (for milk, honey, and eggs), and a ban on exclusive agreements between international manufacturers and local importers. Furthermore, an importer holding over half of an international manufacturer's import volume would be classified as a distributor and prohibited from importing competing manufacturers' products.
The plan also includes transferring the Competition Authority to the Ministry of Finance and re-enacting European law that prohibits excessive pricing. Regarding taxation and budget, the plan suggests the immediate cancellation of the "trapped profits" law and excess profits tax, alongside a multi-year reduction of VAT to 12% and a decrease in income tax to a maximum of 40%. The state budget includes freezing the pension for existing civil servants, canceling coalition funds, reducing benefits for draft dodgers, and eliminating the tender exemption system.
In terms of infrastructure, Zelekha proposes transferring national projects to a BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) tender method and private operators. This includes building a high-speed train to Kiryat Shmona and Eilat, constructing two hospitals in the north and south, operating an airfield in Hatzor, managing the metro project, fully implementing the 2012 vehicle reform, and establishing a new bank under a PPP (Public-Private Partnership) model.
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