PM to speed up Trajtenberg implementation?

Netanyahu mulling bypassing Social-Economic Cabinet vote on committee's recommendations after expressing satisfaction with report

Tomer Avital, Calcalist |Published: 09.27.11 , 14:08

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is mulling expediting the implementation of the Trajtenberg Committee's recommendations and cutting short the Social-Economic Cabinet's discussions on the report.

The Social-Economic cabinet, a body of coalition ministers, is scheduled to discuss the committee's recommendations and submit a revised version of the report to the prime minister.

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Netanyahu is mulling contracting the cabinet's role and even forgoing its vote on the report. This follows the satisfaction with which the report was received at the Prime Minister's office. Nonetheless, the report will be submitted for government approval.

Netanyahu was expected to meet with Professor Trajtenberg on Tuesday to tie loose ends. The government is expected to work around the clock until the Jewish New Year holiday begins to formulate the final layout of the reform, including reforms in the defense system.

According to the discussions' schedule obtained by Calcalist, the cabinet will likely convene on Sunday – immediately after the holiday – to discuss the Trajtenberg report for which, in an unusual move, the cabinet meeting was moved from Sunday to Monday.

There is a possibility that the committee's report will be discussed by the government on Monday. The prime minister and finance minister are expected to determine the governmental setup that will discuss the report and the extent to which the cabinet will discuss the report on Sunday.

Whether the report is discussed by the cabinet or by the government, discussions are expected to sail in choppy waters that will impede the implementation of the report in its current format. Shas and Yisrael Beiteinu ministers have already expressed reservations at some of the recommendations.