Minister of Finance Yair Lapid refuses to condemn Israelis' depositing money in tax havens. In an interview on a Channel 10 current affairs program on Saturday evening, Lapid evaded questions on the issue.
Asked by the program host, "You have been finance minister for almost a year, and you're responsible for tax revenues. As finance minister, what do you think about wealthy Israelis who open bank accounts in foreign tax havens so as not to pay taxes in Israel?" Lapid replied, "You'll have to ask me about that after the State Comptroller announces his decision."
The host tried a different tack, asking, "Forget about the State Comptroller, do you think that this is proper?" Lapid repeated his response.
"I can't believe that you're evading this question. As finance minister, do you want Israelis to send their money abroad?" asked the host. Lapid replied, "Look, I'm not evading; I simply can't answer you. It's not the same thing. I say that I'll respond after the State Comptroller announces his decision."
Asked if he held a foreign bank account, Lapid said, "No. I have no foreign bank account, because I live here and I have no foreign accounts. I'm not engaging in an moral argument. I have no foreign accounts, and I've never had any."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on January 19, 2014
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