Israeli traders criticise ’suidical’ VAT rise
Tuesday June 30, 2009
Introducing VAT on fruit and vegetables in Israel amounts to "political suicide", a trading expert has claimed.
Shimon Darvish, chairman of the traders committee of Jerusalem’s Mahane Yehuda, made the comment to Globes as he prepared to hold a demonstration against the plans.
Talking to the news website, he added that prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is unlikely to be seen in the markets – which were previously a major source of support for the politician – any time soon.
"I call on the minister of finance and the prime minister to come along with me for a day and to look these people in the eye," he explained.
"The markets are the country’s biggest soup kitchen. But Steinitz and Bibi don’t buy in the market. Let’s see them hit the wealthiest, the ones they’re afraid to touch."
Last week, Globes also revealed that Israeli minister Eli Yishai recently unveiled proposals which would avoid the introduction of VAT on fruit and vegetable.