The dispute over a pension hike has been resolved after Yisrael Beitenu reached agreement with the Finance Ministry.
The Likud and Yisrael Beitenu have signed an agreement this morning allowing Avigdor Liberman's party to join Israel's ruling coalition. The negotiating teams of Yisrael Beitenu and the Ministry of Finance reached agreement during the night on outstanding issues. After the meeting Kulanu leader Minister of Finance Moshe Kahlon and Yisrael Beitenu chairman Liberman declared that a coalition agreement could now be signed. Likud Minister of Tourism Yariv Levin also took part in the negotiations.
The matter in dispute had been Yisrael Beitenu's demand for a pension hike for Russian-speaking new immigrants who had not made enough National Insurance contributions to receive a full pension. The issue has been resolved by an agreement to raise pension supplements for the population at large. This measure will add an estimated NIS 1.3-1.4 billion to the State budget.
Liberman is expected to be sworn in as Minister of Defense next week.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on May 25, 2016
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2016
Netanyahu and Liberman