Knesset
KnessetIsrael news photo: Flash 90

The Knesset voted Tuesday to give the government 90 additional days to create a budget. The government now has 135 days total to turn in the 2013 budget.

When the budget is submitted, the Knesset will then have 50 days to study it and decide whether to give its approval.

The proposed delay passed a second reading with 69 in favor and 9 opposed. MK Ahmed Tibi (Ra’am Ta’al) then proposed that if the proposal failed to pass a third reading, it be considered a no-confidence vote for the government.

The bill passed a third and final hearing with 56 in favor, 10 opposed and 15 abstaining.

MK Uri Maklev criticized the new government over the change. “This government is run by parties that are unaware of the difficulties faced by the poorest sector of society,” he charged. “The ministers will allow water and electricity to be made more expensive, the government will cause basic goods to become more expensive and will raise the cost of education and health care.”

“This law is intended to give the government more time, and to give the Knesset less time to discuss the budget,” he added. “The government will come to some agreements… they’ll make cuts, drag things out, and then the Knesset will have a few days to learn what the budget says and try to fight it.”