TEL AVIV - A failure by Likud Knesset members to support the state budget would force the government to shell out large sums of money in a bid to elicit other parties' backing, Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says.
In a Likud party meeting Monday, Netanyahu urged party members to refrain from tying the budget vote to the Gaza disengagement issue.
“We have all worked together on the economic plan,” he said.
The Likud party members on hand reached a unanimous decision to vote in favor of the state budget.
Netanyahu hinted that if the Likud party “rebels,” who are opposed to the pullout and did not attend the meeting, would not vote in favor of the budget, he would be willing to transfer funds to Shas so the budget would pass in the Knesset vote.
All party members should be obligated to vote for the budget in accordance with the party line, Knesset Member Ronnie Bar-on said during the session.
Budget vote final hurdle before pullout
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Netanyahu are attempting to convince all party members to vote in favor of the budget, but as of now the “rebels” are standing by their pledge to vote against it.
Without the support of either Shinui or Shas, the budget proposal may fall, and with it the entire government.
The budget vote remains the government’s final hurdle in the Knesset before the disengagement plan’s implementation.
The vote on the budget would determine the current government’s fate, and subsequently, the fate of the disengagement plan, Vice Premier Shimon Peres said in a labor party meeting.
“I suggest we examine not only the budget itself, but the other issues at hand as well,” he said.
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