Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat said on Tuesday that he expects Teva Pharmaceutical Industries to appreciate Jerusalem and the State of Israel well for all the assistance they have received. Speaking during a hearing at the Knesset Finance Committee on the financial crisis at Teva, he noted, "In the future they will also ask for the assistance of the Knesset and the government, and they must take into account that this is a two-way street."
Barkat added, "Together with the Histadrut and the government with whom we are constantly in touch, we demand that Teva do everything to protect the workers. This is possible through upgrading their factories for the next generation, just as Intel and other companies have done. It's not proper for the State of Israel to break Teva. It must help it get out of the crisis. In every situation, we will continue to stand by the workers."