Ex-Treasury Official Slams Netanyahu, Warns of Isolation and Economic Ruin
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Former Ministry of Finance official Shaul Meridor strongly criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, warning his policies could lead to international isolation, economic sanctions, and a drastic fall in living standards. Meridor stated Netanyahu has "lost touch with reality" and is promoting a path of "lies and fear-mongering." He presented the upcoming elections as a critical choice between Netanyahu's detrimental policies and an alternative focused on economic growth and responsibility.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Ex-Treasury official Shaul Meridor warns Netanyahu's policies risk international isolation and economic sanctions.
- Meridor claims Prime Minister Netanyahu has "lost touch with reality" and is promoting "lies and fear-mongering."
- Sanctions could lead to a significant drop in living standards, unemployment, and impact pensions, Meridor stated.
- Meridor described the upcoming elections as "the most fateful ever" with two opposing paths for Israel.
- He contrasted Netanyahu's policies with an alternative focused on economic growth and taking responsibility.
Shaul Meridor, former head of the Budget Division at the Ministry of Finance and former director-general of the Ministry of Energy, has sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, warning that the premier's policies could lead Israel to international isolation, economic sanctions, and a severe decline in living standards.
In an interview with Lior Rosenfeld on Radio Tzafon 104.5FM, Meridor expressed concern over the potential consequences of Israel's disengagement from the global economy and attacked Netanyahu's pre-election messaging. He stated that it is rare for a prime minister, especially one in office for nearly two decades, to admit that his policies would lead the country to "crazy economic and security disaster." Meridor asserted that Netanyahu is essentially admitting his policies will isolate Israel from the world.
Meridor cautioned that economic sanctions could impact numerous sectors, including employment, international trade, and citizens' quality of life. "The meaning of economic sanctions is that the amount of money we will have will decrease significantly. We will not be able to touch pensions, living standards will fall, we will not be able to buy things from abroad, we will not be able to import products, and we will not be able to sell products abroad," he explained. He also predicted "huge unemployment" as people working for international companies might not receive salaries.
Escalating his criticism, Meridor declared that Netanyahu "has lost touch with reality and lost the ability to lead us." He accused the prime minister of selling only "lies and fear-mongering about an eternal war and economic disaster," describing this as "the grim reality of Israel today."
Looking ahead to the elections, Meridor presented two starkly different alternatives for the public, both economically and politically. He described the upcoming elections as "the most fateful ever," contrasting Netanyahu's path of "international isolation, an eternal war, economic sanctions, a crazy drop in living standards, and the loss of citizens' salaries and pensions" with an alternative that "speaks of mobilization, a growing economy, and taking responsibility."
