Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Monday, August 14, 2023
From the Liveblog of
Monday, August 14, 2023
Netanyahu and Smotrich say Fitch’s affirmation ‘proves Israel’s economy is strong’
File: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich give a press conference at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem on January 11, 2023. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich issue a joint statement hailing Fitch Ratings’ affirmation of Israel’s A+ credit rating and its stable credit outlook.
The pair argue that the decision “proves what we have repeatedly said from the start — Israel’s economy is strong, stable and resilient thanks to our responsible and conservative policy.”
Slamming the public focus on widespread fears of potential economic fallout resulting from the coalition’s far-reaching judicial overhaul plan, they add: “When checking the true data on the Israeli economy, the resulting picture is the opposite of the one some are trying to create via false panic campaigns in the news networks.”
