A bill proposing granting tax benefits for residents of the Golan Heights passed a preliminary reading at the Knesset Wednesday.
The bill was initiated by Knesset Member Eli Aflalo (Kadima)
and endorsed by many others. Kadima officials said prior to the vote that they intended to vote in favor of the bill, despite the fact that an earlier faction statement noted it was against voting at this stage.
The Kadima faction slammed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and
Defense Minister Ehud Barak
for their "unwillingness to accept Kadima's proposal to postpone the vote by several weeks instead of putting it forward today, when tensions with Syria have not yet died down."
The statement further stressed that the timing was horrible. "It is expected from those in charge of Israeli policy, particularly those who preach for easing tensions, to place political considerations aside and stop playing with fire at the State of Israel's expense."
It should be noted that a Knesset committee decided Tuesday to expedite the bill's legislation procedures.
Labor faction
chairman Minister Shalom Simhon decided to allow faction members voting freedom. Sources in the party, however, estimated that the bill will not go beyond the initial vote.
During the debate, Meretz Chairman Chaim Oron slammed the bill and said, "I was a part of many Knesset tricks, but there is deceit and recklessness here. You applied the bill on the Golan Heights and there are no Druze communities here…Who are you deceiving here?"
He also addressed Barak and said "Are you voting for such a bill in order to embarrass Kadima?"
Attila Somfalvi contributed to this report
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