Financial considerations not a factor
The budget game
Knesset members admit budget vote hinges on pullout plan stance, rather than economic considerations
JERUSALEM - Knesset members say the vote on the state budget has turned into another battle in the framework of the pullout plan, with parliamentarians set to cast their budget vote without considering its financial implications.
Yachad Knesset Member Haim Oron, for example, is said to be intimately familiar with the various budget clauses and says he does not like the proposal one bit.
"The 2005 budget is as terrible as the previous ones," he says. "It continues the trend of cutting back on services and undermining social security nets."
Nonetheless, Oren expects to vote in favor of the proposal, as not to thwart the disengagement plan.
'Economic plan would lead to growth'
Notably, failure to pass the budget in the Knesset would topple the government and put the breaks on the implementation of the Gaza pullout.
On the other side of the divide is National Religious Party Knesset Member Nissan Slomiansky, who supports the Treasury's economic policies - but will vote against the budget.
"For the first time, a finance minister steps up and offers an economic plan that would lead to growth," he says. "The minister's approach is justified to a large extent."
Still, Slomiansky is set to vote against the proposal in a bid to thwart the disengagement plan.
To add to the irony, he is currently engaged in an effort to change several budget clauses. However, even if the modifications are accepted, he would still refrain from supporting the budget bill.
Shinui Knesset Member Ehud Rassabi, meanwhile, will vote against the budget, even though his party was still in the government when the economic plan was formulated. Later, Shinui ministers were fired over their refusal to back financial concessions to the ultra-Orthodox.
Some of the budget clauses, such as the decision to cancel the free trade zone status accorded to the southern town of Eilat, will lead to a "catastrophe," Rassabi says.
However, even if appropriate changes are made to the proposal, his vote would still depend on his party leadership's decision - which hinges on the pullout plan.
Most political observers and parliamentarians believe the state budget would be approved by the Knesset in the coming weeks one way or another. Yet sadly it appears pressing matters such as the state of the healthcare system or the country's elderly would not receive the attention they deserve, as politicians continue to wrangle over the pullout plan.
