Govt' approves across-the-board ministry budget cuts
In spite of strong opposition from Yisrael Beiteinu, including a threat to leave coalition, prime minister gets budget cuts, stresses 'priorities' – defense, education and welfare won't be cut
Nineteen ministers voted in favor of the budget cut, while seven opposed it. Prior to the vote Yisrael Beiteinu's ministers announced that they would oppose the budget cuts, as did Likud Minister Limor Livnat.
According to the proposal, the cut is set to decrease ministry acquisition and development budgets by 1%, with the exclusion of the defense, education and welfare ministries. At the same time, the government is set to vote on the public transportation fee reductions. The Finance Ministry claimed that the budget was essential for funding the of public transportation price reductions.
"Yisrael Beiteinu will vote against the cuts. Without money we would not be able to absorb the new immigrants from Tunisia and the Falashmura," Immigrant Absorption Minister Sofa Landver stated."
Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch, also of Yisrael Beiteinu, warned that budget cuts would "affect the police's ability to fight organized crime and provide each citizen with a sense of personal safety." Aharonovitch noted that his office's budget constituted only 3% of the state budget, but 13% of the across-the-board cuts.
Sunday's government meeting (Photo: Gil Yohanan)
Netanyahu presented a very different picture. "We are acting responsibly in the political, defense, social and economic sectors," he stated at the opening of the cabinet meeting and announced that the across-the-board cuts would not affect the defense, education and welfare ministries. "We'll lower other budgets, not these, at times like this we need to keep our priorities straight."
Steinitz: Moderate cuts
Referring to Iran sending ships through the Suez Canal, Netanyahu mentioned the need for an increase in the defense budget. "Israel takes a grave view of this Iranian step," he said, adding the Jewish state would need to boost defense spending as a result of Tehran's move and recent regional upheaval."
In efforts to calm the atmosphere, Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz explained that "the cut is a moderate one of only 1%," adding "today I bring before the government a decision to reduce public transportation fares in the peripheries.
"I decided to make exceptions for the education and welfare ministries as the Education Ministry is heading for reform and the Welfare Ministry is mostly focused on social issues. This move – to fund certain things while saving on others is the right move to make."
The past few weeks have sees a rise in tensions between the Yisrael Beiteinu chairman, Avigdor Lieberman and the prime minister over diplomatic appointments. Foreign Minister Lieberman has claimed that the coalition agreements aren't being fulfilled and has threatened to overthrow the government.
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