Cabinet meeting
Cabinet meetingHezki Baruch

At the beginning of the weekly Cabinet meeting today (Sunday), Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for a round of applause for Transportation Minister Miri Regev for running the national torch-lighting ceremony for Israel's 75th Independence Day last week.

Netanyahu said to Regev: "This is an opportunity to say a word of blessing and appreciation to you, Miri, for the very moving ceremony. We saw during those days and ceremonies the people of Israel unite around the things which are sacred to them, the national symbols that we all share. We have one country and it is precious and important to all citizens of Israel.''

Turning to the judicial reform negotiations at the President's Residence, Netanyahu said: "There is also a comprehensive discussion going on between us regarding judicial reform, but we are making an effort to resolve this debate through dialogue. With the goodwill of both parties, I am convinced that agreements can be reached - and I fully support these efforts."

"The government continues to move forward in all areas. Tomorrow we will open the summer session of the Knesset. After we have approved the state budget in the government, we will approve the budget in the Knesset. It's a biennial budget. This budget will be passed together with the Arrangements Law. Both together will bring economic stability and catapult the economy to new achievements,'' he said.

"It is precisely in the days of economic slowdown and global inflation that Israel can and should charge forward. We did it during COVID, we did it during previous global economic slowdowns, and we will do it this time as well. We will bring economic stability, expand competition, and introduce international marketing chains to reduce prices.

"At all times, of course, we maintain security. We will not allow Iran to wrap a stranglehold of terror around us. We are working on this matter around the clock, all the time, even now and we will continue to act both offensively and defensively against Iran's aggression and its terrorist proxies.

Netanyahu promised to establish a National Guard. ''This is a revolutionary step. Along with bringing a budget of billions of shekels to add thousands of police officers, this is all being done to restore the personal security of all Israeli citizens, including in the Arab sector."

"Of course, there is a lot of activity around this table of ministers, each working in his own field, in fields that affect all the citizens of Israel. At the next government meetings, I will ask the ministers and ministries to present the main goals of their ministries and to provide updates on their progress in achieving these goals. We are opening the summer session, and we are going to work very hard for the citizens of Israel," said the Prime Minister.