A recent Israeli survey indicates that 73 percent of Israelis believe that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has failed to handle the economic problems facing Israel, while 78 percent believe the Israeli government actually has no economic plan at all, Kuwait’s official news agency (KUNA) reported.
The survey which was conducted by the Dahav Institute indicated that 34 percent of Israelis believe the economic situation has become worse and 38 percent fear losing their jobs.
Israeli radio quoted local analysts as describing the economy as the "weak point” of Sharon, who nevertheless is still supported by the right wing for his military and political performance, KUNA said.
The 14-month Palestinian uprising against 34 years of Israeli military occupation has paralyzed many Israeli sectors, especially tourism, hotel, agriculture and construction, said the report.
Sharon warned Thursday that Israel was going through a state of "economic emergency" and called for budgetary discipline.
"We are in a state of economic emergency," he told an annual meeting of Israel's association of industrialists in Tel Aviv, as quoted by AFP.
"This is not the right time for strikes, nor for work stoppages, however justified, and it is also not the time for populist laws that threaten the state budget," said Sharon.
"The economic situation is very rough and the difficulties must not be made even worse," he said.
"It's not that we refuse to give in to the demands of employees, but there is simply nowhere to get it (extra funds) from, and I have also told MPs that we will not go over budgets," he said.
The prime minister ruled out higher taxes, cutting development projects or slashing jobs.
For the past two weeks, several Israeli civil service branches have been on strike, including the customs administration, and some departments of the tax and the social security offices, said AFP.
Squeezed by both the Palestinian uprising and a world economic slump, Israel reported a drop this week of nearly three percent in third-quarter gross domestic product.
Sharon took office promising to ensure the personal safety of ordinary Israelis within a short period of time, but has since warned his Likud Party inner circle to prepare for a long fight – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
