Minister of Finance Benjamin Netanyahu made the dramatic move last night. Finance Committee chairman: Withdrawal is not official.
Minister of Finance Benjamin Netanyahu last night withdrew the 2004 state budget bills from the Knesset agenda. Ministry of Finance budget director Uri Yogev said the budget would probably not be approved before January 1. Netanyahu made the announcement after consulting last night with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Nevertheless, Knesset Finance Committee chairman Avraham Hirchson disclosed to “Globes” that that budget had not been irrevocably and officially withdrawn in writing, as required by law; Netanyahu had merely announced his intention of doing so. Sharon therefore has the option of summoning the ministers in an attempt to restrain their financial demands, in order to avoid jeopardizing the budget.
Netanyahu and Yogev blamed the coalition factions for making excessive and demands for budget supplements, beyond any possible framework. Yogev said the factions’ demands for worthy purposes, such as health and education, could have been met up to NIS 1 billion. He asserted, however, that the demands had exceeded NIS 2 billion, and the budget framework could not be exceeded to such an unreasonable extent. He described the situation as extortion.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on December 25, 2003