Silvan Shalom, Vice Prime Minister and Minister for the Development of the Negev and Galilee said on Wednesday that increasing the deficit from 2.5% to 3% is “a decision that we can live with.”

Speaking at a cornerstone laying ceremony for the Dead Sea Institute in the Aravah, Shalom said, “I did not like the attacks against the Minister of Finance. Increasing the deficit by the amounts in question is definitely something we can live with. When there is a decline in revenues we do not necessarily have to go with crazy cuts.”