Late into Sunday night, after more than 16 hours of debate and deliberations, the Israeli government under the leadership of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert finally managed to pass the 2009 budget - but only barely.
Thirteen ministers supported the budget and even though Olmert made a veiled threat on Sunday hinting he would fire any minister who voted against the proposal, 12 ministers opposed the budget nonetheless.
The 12 ministers who opposed were the seven Labor ministers, four Shas ministers and Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz. Vice Premier Haim Ramon was the only minister to abstain.
The ministers chose the alternative budget proposal with an emphasis on socioeconomics and higher cuts to the defense budget. Child welfare payments and maternity grants are set to be spared cuts and the Pensioners Party was promised an additional 250 million shekels a year for the elderly.
Nevertheless, the defense establishment was guaranteed an additional 900 million shekels this year and another 1.03 billion shekels in the 2010 budget. Olmert accused Defense Minister and Labor chairman Ehud Barak of not presenting all the relevant data to ministers he tried to convince to vote against budget during the night.
Agriculture Minister Shalom Simhon (Labor) told Israel Radio Monday morning that the approved budget was problematic and that until it was brought to the Knesset in a few months, there would be significant changes. However he praised Olmert, saying he had conducted the debate in a very professional manner.08/25/08
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