Supermarket chain owner Rami Levy says he rejected several political party offers to run as MK. He says a stronger Prime Minister Netanyahu will be better for everyone.
Speaking to business management students in Herzliya, Globes reported that Levy said, “We have to give Netanyahu more strength in order to prevent political blackmail. I think the moment the government can take care of the economy the way it should, both the consumer and the workers will be better off.”
Levy, who pioneered in cutting prices to the minimum for the benefit of lower income families, operates at least three supermarkets in Judea and Samaria, one in Beitar Illit and the others in the Binyamin region of Samaria and in Gush Etzion, south of Jerusalem and near Efrat, as well as stores in the Jerusalem area. The Givat Shaul neighborhood Rami Levi is "mehadrin" with all the products there having the most stringent halakhic approval.
The three stores in Judea and Samaria attract a mixed Arab and Jewish crowd, both as customers and workers.
Levy previously has come under criticism from Labor party leader Shelly Yechimovich for paying minimum wages, and he criticized her during his talk with the students.
“Yechimovich is unprecedented in her ability to speak eloquently,” he said of the former television and radio journalist.
However, he added that she “plays on the weakness of the weaker sectors of society, but has never proven herself and does not really know how to help them.”
Turning to the cell phone price war, Levy, whose supermarket is one of the new companies offering mobile phone service, predicted that firms offering service for 50 shekels a month will either raise their fees very quickly or will be forced to fold.
He also said that his chain will operate 50 supermarkets by 2015, but he did not reveal if he will open more branches in Judea and Samaria.
Maaleh Adumin could be one potential location due to its large population. Another possibility could be Ariel, which is a small city, but is near several Jewish communities in western Samaria.