At the height of the Iranian missile attacks that killed more than 20 Israelis, the Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, showed a clear separation from the reality of the internal front and the suffering of citizens, according to The Marker Economic newspaper in a report.
During a remote press conference, Netanyahu completely ignored the death of the dead or the wounded, or even a reference to the grave damage to the cities such as Petah Tikva, Pat Yam, and Haifa, at a time when he was talking enthusiastically about “military successes”.
The newspaper described this as “complete separation” of reality, noting that Netanyahu “shows enthusiasm for combat achievements and avoids any responsibility towards civilians.”
Fuel crisis and disruption with supply chains
One of the most prominent direct economic repercussions of the Iranian attack was to disrupt the “Bazan” oil refining facilities in Haifa after it was hit directly.
According to the Marker, Sonol announced that it will reduce or stop supplying fuel to commercial customers as a result of this holidays, in a clear indication of a possible supply crisis.
It is noteworthy that Israeli Energy Minister Elie Cohen told Reuters on Wednesday that Israel will resume exports of natural gas when the army gives it permission to do so, in light of the continued exchange of air strikes with Iran.
The newspaper also confirmed that the airlines, such as Wizer, canceled their flights until mid -September, while Al -Sablal was cut off with 220 employees from Bezak Telecom Company, and they remained stuck in Montenegro and Naples due to the stopping of Israeli aircraft, amid the absence of any government plan to return them.
Civilian economy is threatened
The Marker revealed that about 3,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes as a result of the fall of the missiles, some of whom are tenants who do not know whether they would receive compensation or can cancel the lease contracts.
According to the newspaper, legal questions are raised about the extent of the state’s responsibility of the damage to private property, without any official government declaration regarding a support or compensation plan.
The newspaper published a special paragraph with questions and answers that included:
- Will the tenants get an exemption from rent?
- Can they be compensated for furniture and burnt clothes?
- Do they have to continue to pay electricity and water bills despite the evacuation?
It is noteworthy – according to the newspaper – that the relevant ministries have not yet issued any official instructions on these issues, while families live in suffocating legal and economic fog.
Civil performance
The Marker attacked the performance of the Minister of Communications, Miri Regev, who said in a shocking statement to the Israelis stranded in Europe, “Enjoy, you are abroad,” which was described in the report as reflecting an unprecedented recklessness and superficiality from a minister responsible for hundreds of families who were unable to return to Israel, who left their children, business or patients without arrangement.
The newspaper reported that Regev’s statements and its management style reflect the control of “patronage and political loyalty”.
Journalist Avi Barrelli wrote in the same context that “favoritism has reached an end to some of the in force in Israel with private planes or through Sinai, while the general public left for their fate,” asking, “Are we in a country or a refugee camp?”
Global reviews make an early warning
In its first evaluation since the outbreak of the confrontation with Iran, Standard & Poor’s credit rating has issued a warning about possible risks to the Israeli economy, especially with regard to:
- The transportation infrastructure is disrupted.
- Energy price fluctuations.
- Impact on trade movement.
Nevertheless, Standard & Poor’s or Fitch has not reduced the credit rating so far, but stressed that the continued escalation or the government’s failure to manage the Civil Front will double the economic and financial risks in the coming months.
(Tagstotranslate) Economy (T) Israel