(Communicated by the Cabinet Secretariat)

At the weekly Cabinet meeting today (Sunday, 2 February 2014):

1. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the following remarks:

"Good morning. Attempts to impose a boycott on the State of Israel are immoral and unjust. Moreover, they will not achieve their goal. First, they cause the Palestinians to adhere to their intransigent positions and thus push peace further away. Second, no pressure will cause me to concede the vital interests of the State of Israel, especially the security of Israel's citizens. For both of these reasons, threats to boycott the State of Israel will not achieve their goal."

2. The Cabinet approved amendments to the 1977 Penal Code.

 3. The Cabinet instructed the Economy Ministry, in coordination with the Finance Ministry, to formulate a plan for assisting the absorption of additional workers in Jerusalem and national preference areas, and among minorities, the ultra-orthodox, the handicapped and single parents.

4. The Cabinet authorized the Ministerial Committee on Legislation to approve draft legislation on housing construction in preferred areas. The draft legislation is an additional step in the Government's efforts to deal with the significant increase in housing prices and to increase the number of residential units being built in Israel.

5. The Cabinet continued its discussion on changing income tax benefits for residents of various communities.