Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced tonight that he intends to give citizens a monetary grant within days as part of efforts to deal with the corona crisis.

“We are in the middle of summer but the corona clouds cover many countries in the world. The second wave has already reached us and we are fighting it with determination and unity,” Netanyahu began.

“The approach that guides us is to take health steps and at the same time economic measures. Health measures that will help us save your life, citizens of Israel, and economic measures that will take on the distress that many of you are facing. I hear your distress, you are not alone.”

Netanyahu detailed the grant amounts. “Tonight I announce a complementary step that we have decided on – additional financial support for all Israeli citizens. This is a step that is in addition to the economic plan we made a week ago.”

“A family of two parents with one child will receive a grant of NIS 2,000 ($ 584), a family with two children will receive NIS 2,500 ($ 730) and a family with three or more children will receive a NIS 3,000 ($ 875) grant. All other citizens over the age of 18 will receive NIS 750 ($ 219) per person.”

The Prime Minister stated that “Most Israeli citizens will receive the money within days. I am sure I will receive the support of Benny Gantz and others so that we can make do with a government decision. If we are required to legislate this grant, I expect all factions to support it so we can transfer the money to you, the citizens, quickly.”

Source: Arutz Sheva

A check for every citizen? This appears to be the new economic plan that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rolled out Wednesday.

“Why do we give out this money? Because we have to get the economy moving,” he said.

“People are sitting at home. They do not make purchases. When we give them this money, they will buy. It encourages consumption – they will go to buy. And once they go to buy, businesses expand, they have to hire workers.

“This money encourages consumption and employment,” he continued, “and will move the wheels of the economy faster.”

The total cost of the plan is NIS 6 billion ($ 1.75 billion), the prime minister said, which is on top of a coronavirus “safety net” plan that he and Finance Minister Israel Katz revealed earlier this week and that was approved by the Knesset.

“After this plan is approved, it should be understood that most Israelis will receive this money within days through the National Insurance,” Netanyahu explained. However, he cautioned that he first has to get the support of Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz, who chose not to attend Wednesday night’s briefing.

Source: JPost