Ahmad 
The Israeli Minister of Economy and Industry, Nir Barkat, announced the intention of the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to achieve victory in the war against the Gaza Strip and eliminate the Islamic resistance movement “Hamas”, ignoring the size of the increasing economic losses inflicted on Tel Aviv.
During his remarks on a visit to the UAE to attend a WTO ministerial conference, Barakat stressed Israel’s commitment to victory in the war, stressing that national security is not a priority but a vital issue for the Israeli economy.
Israel’s $500 billion economy has been hit hard during the more than 4-month-old war against Hamas in Gaza and has attracted thousands of Israel’s workforce who have joined the army.
In response to questions about the impact of the war on the economic situation, he noted that people look to Israel as a safe country and expressed confidence in the country’s ability to overcome economic challenges.
Barkat pointed to expectations of growth of the Israeli economy after the war, benefiting from the progress of the high-tech sector.
With regard to financing the war, he announced his Government’s intention to borrow in the short term, stressing Israel’s readiness to bear the consequences of the high debt-to-GDP ratio.
Barkat stressed that Palestinian workers will not return to work in Israel until reforms are carried out by the Palestinian Authority, including stopping paying salaries to families of militants and prisoners.
Despite the challenges, he expressed confidence in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s vision for national security and victory in the war.
In conclusion, Barkat did not disclose his intention to compete with Netanyahu for the leadership of the Likud party, stressing his confidence in the leadership of the current government.
Israel began its offensive on the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip after the Oct. 7 offensive that killed 1,200 people and took 253 hostages, according to Israeli statistics.
Israel’s response to the attack killed some 30,000 Palestinians in the territory, according to Gaza health officials.