Netanyahu buckles, defers vote on Trajtenberg report

Faced with growing opposition within cabinet to vote on social team's recommendations, Netanyahu decides to delays vote, again

Ronen Medzini|Last update: 10.03.11 , 19:17

Rebellion in the cabinet? Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was forced to defer the planned vote on the Trajtenberg recommendations Monday, as the growing opposition within the government to the report in its current form spelled its certain downfall.

The Prime Minister's Office said that "the cabinet hearing on the report will resume during its next session. The prime minister is convinced that he will be able to garner the necessary votes to install a fundamental change in national priorities."

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"A change of this magnitude is not simple, but the PM is confident he will be able to get the necessary majority for the vote." An aide to the PM added he was "determined to see the bill pass."

Earlier, Ynet learned that only 13 ministers had pledged to vote in favor of the report, while 15 ministers were planning to oppose its recommendations.

The prime minister went back and fourth on the decision to bring the Trajtenberg recommendations before the cabinet for a vote, and had initially decided to forge on with the move despite its impending failure. The growing opposition, however, eventually forced him to change his mind – again.

Yisrael Beiteinu and Shas informed the PM that they will oppose the recommendations, as did Vice Premier Silvan Shalom, National Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau and Minister Yossi Peled.

Interior Minister Eli Yishai and Defense Minister Ehud Barak also voiced their objections to the report.

Netanyahu told the ministers that "Israelis must know that we are changing our priorities, that we are acting responsibly and that our main mission is to reduce the cost of living in Israel."

The prime minister warned that if Israel does not act responsibly, it might go down the same road as other nations worldwide, which are facing financial collapse. "We will act differently," he said.

"We won't extend the state's overdraft. We will adopt the core of the report, and then we will move forward with private proposals, and Israel will beat a new path."