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Lapid, Bennett Performances Disappoint on Israeli Economy

On this Jewish time of “assessments” for the New Year, many are reconsidering the performance of Finance MInister Yair Lapid and Minister of Economy and Trade Naftali Bennett.
Israel's Finance Minister Yair Lapid (L) and Minister of Economics and Trade Naftali Bennett (2nd L) walk together during the swearing-in ceremony, at the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament, in Jerusalem March 18, 2013. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new governing coalition took office after a parliamentary vote on Monday with powerful roles reserved for supporters of settlers in occupied territory. REUTERS/Baz Ratner (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR3F5XP
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Naftali Bennett, the chairman of the HaBayit HaYehudi Party who also is the economy and trade minister, regularly slept on the couch in his Jerusalem office on extra-busy work days at the beginning of his term;  he lives in the city of Ra’anana, an hour and a half drive from the capital.

Bennett, 41, a veteran of an elite army unit, wanted to demonstrate a military standard of sacrifice and commitment to the job. He wanted to show that he works around the clock, does not waste his time driving home and does not sleep at a hotel in Jerusalem as his job allows him. People with whom he shared this information found it difficult to see the logic behind the senior minister sleeping at night in his office. They did not understand how this contributes to his or his ministry’s functioning well. After all, Bennett has a driver and a comfortable and accessorized official car, and he could work during his commute home.

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