Following a recent
Standard & Poors downgrade
of nine eurozone countries' credit ratings, Prime Minister Binyamin
Netanyahu bragged that just four months ago Israel received an improved
credit rating from the same company.
Speaking at the beginning of
the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday morning, Netanyahu stated that
"the Israeli economy stands out, positively, as a result of our
responsible policy. We are not breaking the budgetary framework. We
are upholding the first rule in managing an economy, whether of a
family, a firm or a country; over time, one does not spend more than
what one brings in, than what one makes. And if you did so, you make
the correction gradually."
Netanyahu
gave as an example of his government's responsible fiscal policy the
fact that he is funding his plan for free education for pre-school aged
children and his plan to deal with illegal infiltrators from 4%
contributions from other ministries' budgets.
He defended his plan to deal with infiltrators against criticism that it
violated human rights by detaining illegal immigrants for extended
periods of time.
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"Last week, a law was also passed that will allow illegal infiltrators
to be detained for up to three years. This is not to say that they must
be held for this entire period. However, it changes the existing
reality in which an infiltrator is detained and released after two weeks
– and he makes his way to Eilat or Tel Aviv or some place else."
The prime minister added: "This is a welcome and important change and it
is necessary in order to maintain the character of the State of Israel,
to ensure its future as a Jewish and democratic state."
Netanyahu emphasized that his plan targeted "illegal work infiltrators" and not refugees.