Finance Minister Abraham Hirchson
Photo: Alex Kolomoyski
Knesset approves 2007 budget
Israel’s 2007 budget approved in Knesset vote early Thursday; 63 ministers vote for budget, 31 against, six refrain from vote
Early Thursday morning, Israel’s 2007 budget was approved by the Knesset with a majority of 63 votes. 31 ministers opposed the budget, and six refrained from voting.
Those who refrained from voting in protest of the budget included, MK Itshac Galantee (Pensioners Party), MK Moshe Sharoni (Pensioners Party), MK Marina Solodkin (Kadima), and MK Shelly Yacimovich (Labor-Meimad)
The vote was quick in comparison to recent years and only took about two hours, following an eight hour long meeting.
Following the vote, Finance Minister Abraham Hirchson said the quick approval of the budget was “important news for Israel’s economy and a significant signal to international markets that Israel’s economy is strong and stable”.
Hirchson emphasized that he was proud “we succeeded in presenting a balanced, reasonable, responsible budget”. He pointed out that other than an unusually high amount of money budgeted for security, the budget also included NIS 2.9 billion (USD 693 million) for far reaching social issues.
Netanyahu passes on opening speech
Opposition Chairman MK Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) intended to open the budget meeting with a speech but backed out at the last minute when he discovered he would be speaking to a nearly empty hall.
Not one minister was present at the government table at the start of the meeting, and the meeting’s chairman was forced to announce a short break pending the arrival of a deputy minister.
In stead of Netanyahu, former Finance Minister MK Silvan Shalom spoke before the Knesset of a social revolution in the budget, but did all he could to reject the supplement minimum wage.
Also, a Likud suggestion to add NIS 102 million (USD 24 million) for the protection of Gaza vicinity communities was opposed 62:23.
