PM: State will fulfill deficit, spending goals

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has addressed the plan to increase the state's deficit goal to 3%, saying that "We are not changing the spending goal… We are matching the deficit goal to the Maastricht goal, which is standard in Europe."

Netanyahu, who spoke during a government meeting, added: "I never wanted to excessively increase the tax burden in order to avoid compromising the economic growth. We will fulfill both the deficit and the spending goals." (Boaz Fyler)