Mofaz storms out of cabinet meeting

Transportation minister leaves discussion on 2008 state budget due to Finance Ministry's plan for cutback in his ministry's budget. Shas chairman states his party will oppose budget proposal, claiming it hurts the weaker sectors of society

Reuters | Published: 08.12.07, 12:17

Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz stormed out of Sunday's cabinet meeting that focused on the 2008 national budget, in protest of the Finance Ministry insistence on a planned budget cut of NIS 150 million from his ministry's budget.

Mofaz left a note addressed to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert behind him, saying, "This is national irresponsibility, and I shall not take part in this."

Meanwhile, Shas Chairman Eli Yishai proclaimed that his party too would vote against the budget proposal.

"We will not support a budget that increases the social gaps in Israel. We will vote against the budget in the cabinet meeting and continue the struggle at the Knesset," Shas Chairman Eli Yishai said Sunday.

Yishai stated that the 2008 national budget proposal included the freezing or decreasing of allowances and would hurt the weaker sectors in Israel. "This government is more sensitive and attentive than the previous one, and I hope that we will be able to block this cutback and balance the budget at the Knesset."

At the beginning of the meeting, Olmert rejected accusations regarding the budget, saying, "The 2008 budget allocates the fruits of growth in recent years to the fields of national priority" education, welfare and security."