Last night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a halt to the legislation for the plan for a 0% VAT rate on first homes being promoted by Minister of Finance Yair Lapid. This is until the dispute between the two over the addition to the defense budget is settled. Sources in Lapid's Yesh Atid party said in response that "this is extortion that could be cause for a break-down of the negotiations." RELATED ARTICLES Finance C'ttee approves 0% VAT plan amendments Finance Minister rejects NIS 11b defense budget request Yesh Atid sources later took a harsher tone, and threatened to quit the government. "The 0% VAT bill has already passed the government and the prime minister voted in favor. If he really is now freezing the proposal, there will be consequences for the coalition, up to resignation from the government." Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on September 16, 2014 © Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2014
