יותר ממאה בכירים במשק נגד כלכלת הבלוקצ'יין של נתניהו: "פתרון המקובל בארגוני פשיעה"

Over 100 economists, including two Nobel laureates, business leaders, and former public servants, have signed a sharp letter warning that banking sanctions on Israel would cause "immense and irreversible damage." The letter was written in response to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks on Friday, suggesting Israel should "prepare an alternative economy" in anticipation of banking sanctions, with blockchain being one of the proposed solutions. The signatories express "deep anxiety and concern" over these statements, calling the proposal to prepare for the use of cryptocurrencies "bizarre and typical of criminal organizations."

Among the signatories are Nobel laureate in Economics Professor Yoel Mokyr, Nobel laureate in Chemistry Professor Aaron Ciechanover, former Bank of Israel Governor Professor Yacov Frenkel, four former Directors General of the Treasury (Yarom Ariav, Professor Avi Ben-Bassat, David Brodet, and Haim Shani), three former Deputy Governors of the Bank of Israel (Professor Zvi Eckstein, Professor Avia Spivak, and Dr. Nadine Bodow Trachtenberg), two former Supervisors of Banks (Yair Avidan and Roni Hizkiyahu), and former Heads of the Budget Division (David Boaz and Professor Udi Nisan). Also signing are the President of the National Academy of Sciences, Professor David Harel, and leading figures in high-tech and venture capital, including Marius Nacht (co-founder of Check Point), Alon Cohen (co-founder of CyberArk), Dov Moran, and Gigi Levy-Weiss.

The signatories warn that banking sanctions would paralyze the entire economy, impacting the banking system, companies, exporters, investors, and particularly the high-tech sector, which they describe as the economy's growth engine. They predict a surge in unemployment, a complete disappearance of foreign investment, and a collapse of Israel's global economic standing. The letter details the daily impact on citizens, stating that Israelis would be unable to use credit cards, international e-commerce sites like Amazon and AliExpress would be blocked, and foreign workers would leave en masse due to difficulties in transferring money home. The healthcare system would also be unable to purchase medical equipment and medications. Ultimately, they conclude that economic sanctions would completely destroy the model that enables Israel to exist as a modern and advanced economy.

Referencing countries like South Africa, Iran, and Russia that have faced similar sanctions, the signatories caution that the standard of living for Israeli citizens would plummet drastically, severely impacting the nation's ability to fund its defense and protect itself from enemies. The letter directly addresses the Prime Minister, accusing him of "consciously leading the State of Israel towards international economic boycott and isolation" with a "bizarre solution typical of criminal organizations" that will be of no help. They attribute his statements to a "basic lack of understanding and ignorance" regarding Israel's declining international standing.

The article clarifies that the letter describes an extreme scenario of comprehensive banking sanctions, a scenario currently not being pursued by anyone. The actual measures being taken are more targeted, primarily concerning settlements. The UK announced an import ban from settlements and sanctions on companies and individuals aiding their expansion, including financial institutions. The Netherlands implemented a ban on trade with settlements, with violations punishable by up to six years in prison. The UN Human Rights Council's database of companies involved in settlements includes seven Israeli banks. The Institute for the People's Policy estimates 121 restrictive measures against Israel in 62 countries, 40 of which are financial.

This letter follows a similar one from the Forum of Economists last week, signed by over 60 economists and former senior officials, which also warned of isolation and sanctions. This time, the signatories include prominent figures from high-tech, venture capital funds, and leading law firms, those who would be directly affected by the "alternative economy" proposed by the Prime Minister.