Top Netanyahu Adviser Says No Tax Hikes as Deficit Widens

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s top economic adviser said raising taxes would be a “big mistake” as the economy begins to recover from the crisis brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Avi Simhon, chairman of the National Economic Council, told Israel radio on Sunday that he didn’t anticipate taxes would rise this year or next. The newly installed government is starting to craft a new budget after unveiling a roughly 100 billion shekel ($28.5 billion) stimulus program, with the Bank of Israel projecting the budget deficit could swell to 11.5% of output this year.

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