Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon (Kulanu) discussed Monday the ongoing wave of terrorism, as well as the Ministry of Finance’s activities and goals it set for itself.
In regards to the security situation, Kahlon, a member of the security cabinet, said to Arutz Sheva that while the wave of terror was still ongoing, he did not accept accusations that the government is not doing all it can.
“We are not in a good spot. There is a wave of terror. To say that there is incompetence here – that I do not accept.”
Kahlon said that the problem was a difficult one to control, given the often spontaneous nature of the decision to attack. In some cases, he noted, young Arabs exposed to ceaseles propaganda had made the decision to attack Jews after something as trivial as a row with their parents.
“We have a problem here, with (for example) a child who gets a slap from his father and then takes a knife and stabs.
“It is true that there is an increase in terrorism, but I trust and fully support the security forces.”
With that, Kahlon agreed with growing voices calling for harsher deterrent measures such as expelling the immediate relatives of terrorists who carry out attacks, who in many cases have either directly or indirectly supported or encouraged attacks
Proposals to do so however have faced legal hurdles, including over whether the government can deport them to Gaza or was limited to relocating them within Judea and Samaria.
But Kahlon insisted that, either way, the time had come to act.
“I realized that the only way to treat terrorism is expulsion. I do not care where – so long as terrorists’ families are deported,” he said.
The Kulanu chairman also discussed the decline of the faction’s popularity in recent opinion polls. “I’m glad it is three years before the election. I have other reports that the public is satisfied with the Ministry of Finance and considers me a good finance minister. There is public confidence and that’s what matters. In the end, the public judges by the results – not the goals. Right now I am relaxed and satisfied. You can not run your life according to polls.”
Kahlon admitted that in the Ministry of Finance, mistakes are made and corrected, and that he is not ashamed of accepting constructive criticism. “It is better to surrender and stay alive than to be a jerk and die,” he quipped.
The Finance Minister stressed that he does not intend to merge his party with any other political body, and intends to run alone in the next election. However, he does not rule out expanding the coalition; “I have not given up on the expansion of a coalition which is essential. It is very difficult to function with 61 MKs – anyone who says otherwise is lying.”
According to Kahlon, his relationship with Netanyahu is good despite disagreements that exist between them.
In regards to the housing market crisis, the Kulanu chairman said that formulating a plan is a complex process. “People think you can just press a button and there will be a solution to a decade’s problem. We fight for three things – the cost of living, housing and banking.”
Kahlon said he supports a free market economy and non-intervention in the market – “but if we have to intervene, we will. We have a firm policy to strengthen the middle class and weaker sectors. We will not stop until all young couples can buy an apartment.”
In response to the “Mikveh bill”, the Kulanu faction is forming an opposition to the law, led by MK Rachel Azaria. “(Aryeh) Deri and (Moshe) Gafni assured me that our remarks will be received and advanced to a preliminary reading,” said Kahlon.
