A verbal confrontation broke during today's weekly cabinet meeting between Welfare Minister Itzik Shmuli (Labor) and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.
Shmuli criticized the new aid plan presented to ministers for approval, arguing that the plan must undergo improvements for the self-employed.
"Things we decided aren't happening. The compensation amounts aren't high enough. The self-employed are right, we should raise it and move to the German model. The self-employed feel we're throwing them a noose rather than a lifeline."
Netanyahu was unimpressed by the tone taken by Shmuli towards the person of the Prime Minister, and demanded that he express himself like a statesman: "You're a young, energetic minister and I'm listening to what you and others say here, but don't talk to me in jingles and slogans; you're a minister in the government and that means overall responsibility for everyone here," Netanyahu chastised.
Prime Minister Netanyahu and Finance Minister Yisrael Katz today approved a decision on assistance grants for the self-employed, small business owners, and businesses whose income was harmed as a result of the pandemic, up to the amount of NIS 7,500.
To ensure quick assistance is provided to the self-employed and small business owners, the government declared that the process will start immediately upon ratifying the decision, and in coming days the payment will enter bank accounts.
For those whose application for the second stage grant has not yet been approved (or has not yet been submitted) the new grant will be given along with the payment of the second stage grant.
The government also decided to give the Finance Minister the taslk of circulating the legal memorandum of the financial aid program that will include, among other things, bi-monthly grants for self-employed workers, small business owners, as well as participation in fixed business expenses.