Likud ministers and MKs are openly opposing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Finance Yuval Steinitz's policy of raising fuel prices, and are calling for the party's central committee to be convened to discuss the matter.
Participants at the Likud's social and economic conference in Ramat Gan last week, which the organizers said was held against the backdrop of rising fuel and water prices, as well as tax hikes, included Minister of Transport Israel Katz, Minister of Communications Moshe Kahlon, Deputy Minister Lea Nass, coalition whip MK Zeev Elkin, Knesset Economic Affairs Committee chairman Carmel Shama, and MKs Danny Danon, Haim Katz, and Yariv Levin. Also present were 11 Likud mayors, and hundreds of party activists.
All the participants protested against the government's policy of raising taxes. MK Danon announced that he would collect signatures for convening the Likud central committee to discuss the matter. He needs 500 signatures.
The Likud believes that Netanyahu and Steinitz will prefer reaching an agreed-upon solution, which will gradually reduce or abolish fuel excise before the Likud central committee convenes, in order to avoid embarrassment. For now, Steinitz is refusing to change policy, but Likud sources do not rule out that Netanyahu will overrule him.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on January 31, 2011
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