For the average Israelis, January 2019 will be accompanied by an increase in the price of subsidized bread, electricity, water and food prices. Many households are already bracing for yet another increase, wondering how they will survive without a salary increase. In 2019, MKs, cabinet ministers and other civil servants will receive a salary increase, a move that is actually automatic, based on the previous year’s average wage index.

However, Israel’s elected officials do not share these concerns, as their salaries are far above the national average, and now, despite the need for so many price increases, they are scheduled to receive another salary increase.

MK (Yahadut Hatorah) Moshe Gafne, who chairs the Knesset Finance Committee, was quick to announce he does not plan to accept the raise, which he feels is outrageous for as long as so many people are hungry and lack the basics to survive.

The same is true of the Kulanu party headed by Moshe Kahlon, Israel’s Finance Minister. The entire faction decided it will not accept the salary increase and it submitted a document to the Knesset payroll department instructing it not to add the increase to their monthly salaries.

The exact among of the raise will only be determined by Bituach Leumi in January 2019. The raise is expected to be about 3%. If this is actualized, that means a Member of Knesset will receive an additional NIS 1,100 monthly while a cabinet minister will receive an additional NIS 1,200 monthly.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)