Smotrich vows to carry on previous government’s ‘responsible policy’ on economics

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich reaffirms his commitment to “continue the same responsible policy” that his predecessor Avigdor Liberman pushed.

He also promises that a “giant bundle of reforms” will be attached to the state budget to help ease the process of doing business in Israel.

Liberman drastically removed a series of tariffs on imported goods in a bid to make the economy more competitive and bring down prices.

Smotrich makes his comments alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who defended their government’s sweeping judicial reform plan amid criticism that it would undermine the Israeli economy by undermining investors’ faith in Israel’s rule of law.

Liberman rejects the comparison, saying the new government is leading Israel toward an economic crisis.