President Reuven Rivlin spoke Monday evening at the Eli Horowitz of Economics and Society Conference in Haifa, where he criticized the government's economic policy.
According to the President, the Israeli public has made their "dissatisfaction with the existing economic and social systems" loud and clear in the last three years.
"When many citizens feel that under the present conditions of the social and economic systems, they are unable to grow and develop - it is a strategic threat," he said.
Rivlin added that "with or without a diplomatic agreement [with the Palestinians], Israel will continue to invest significant portions of the budget, for the benefit of investment in defense, research, development and procurement. "
Rivlin criticized the populist statements made in the past by Finance Minister Yair Lapid. "We've learned in the last three years that the public treasury is not found with the hareidim just as it is not found in the settlements. This is a dangerous concept," explained the president.
"Turning an accusing finger to this or that sector could plunge us all into a struggle. This, at a time when it is clear that the solution to the challenges before us depend on cooperation."
"It is clear to all that the financial industry, the energy industry, the food industry, the housing industry and all other industries, need to make brave and responsible reforms today," he stressed.
"Bold reforms do not include the Knesset-approved reforms related to the Centralization Law and the Food Law. I fear that those reforms were not brave enough. Not only did they not provide an answer to the problem, but they anchored the status quo rather than attempting to amend it."