Opposition Leader Netanyahu says he plans to be Israel's next Prime Minister, though he does not foresee elections soon. He has guarded praise for Bank of Israel's Stanley Fischer, saying, "his influence is limited."

Speaking at a business forum co-sponsored by Globes and Tapuz, Binyamin Netanyahu - Israel's former Prime Minister and former Finance Minister - had praise for Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer and his agressive actions against the plunging dollar-shekel rate, but said his influence is limited. 

Prof. Fischer took strong action two weeks ago, when the shekel reached a 12-year high value of only 3.22 shekels to the dollar, and announced that the Bank of Israel would quadruple its daily purchases of dollars, to $100 million.  The declaration did, in fact, help stop the shekel's continued soar, and at present the shekel-dollar rate stands at nearly 3.43.

"I have a good opinion of Governor Fischer," Netanyahu said. "I was the one who convinced him to come [to Israel]. I think he's doing his best, but his influence is limited.  It's like the ocean's waves: You can build a small dam, but the ocean is stronger.  He took a dramatic step, a good one, but it won't help over the long range.  International economies are involved here."

Netanyahu said he supports a reduction in taxes, and praised his competitor - Finance Minister Roni Bar-On of Kadima - for his attempt to introduce a tax-reduction program.  "As Prime Minister, I will reduce taxes across the board, and you will see that more taxes will be collected, as happened when I was Finance Minister," Netanyahu said.

"I don't see elections right now," Netanyahu said, "because the coalition members are showing a very impressive ability to stick to their seats. There is some kind of glue that keeps them attached to their chairs, even though the public needs elections. When we get to elections, the job for which I will seek the public trust is that of Prime Minister."

Security, Economy and Education

"Three important things must be done," the Likud leader said. "We have to rehabilitate our security, renew our economic growth, and revolutionize education.  I won't hold all three portfolios, and possibly none of them, but I will ensure that the right people will execute the necessary policies.  In the Finance Ministry, we need someone who understands global markets; in education, it is absurd that the People of the Book are weaker than a third of the world's countries. These three areas are the legs of an equilateral triangle, each of which supports the other two."



Meeting with British PM

Netanyahu met on Monday afternoon with visiting British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The Likud leader told Brown, "Further Israeli concessions in Judea and Samaria will strengthen Hamas and will enable the construction of another Iranian base in the heart of Israel."



Likud Still Leads

A public survey publicized on the Knesset Channel that asked the question, "How would you vote if elections were held today?" found that the largest party would be the Likud, with 30 Knesset seats, followed by Labor with half that amount, Kadima - 12 seats, and the National Union, with 10 Knesset mandates.