The government squeaked by with ten days to spare in meeting the deadline for passing the budget and its accompanying Economics Arrangement Bill. Both had originally been due Dec. 31, 2005. From the time it was formed, the new government had 45 days to pass both measures, or else new elections would automatically have been called.
The budget for the year 2006 totals 271.4 billion shekels, an increase of 1.7% over the previous year's. The increase was to have been only 1%, but Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Finance Minister Avraham Hirschson jacked it up still more.
The United Torah Judaism (UTJ), National Union/National Religious Party (NU/NRP) and Yisrael Beiteinu opposition parties agreed to abstain in the vote, and not vote against. Their price tag for cooperating with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's coalition was high, however - nearly 600 million shekels.
The first condition was a provision that there would be no funds in the budget for the unilateral withdrawal plan - though money for the security fence is still there. In addition, some NIS 592 million will also go to Hesder Yeshivot, National Service, funds for Disengagement refugees and new immigrants, in addition to other organizations and causes chosen by the parties.
Only the Likud, Meretz and the Arab parties voted against the budget. In addition, MK Aryeh Eldad of the NU/NRP voted against, despite his party's agreement with the government not to do so.
Five Labor MKs rebelled against the government coalition by staying away from the plenum during the vote, and other Labor party members voted in favor despite their best instincts. “This is not the budget that any of us wanted to pass,” said Vilnai, “but we had to do it for the sake of the coalition. I hate that I must vote for it."
“The passage of the state budget by such an impressive margin is a clear expression of the coalition’s strength, and is good news for the markets, investors, and the Israeli public,” commented MK Avigdor Yitzhaki (Kadima). He added that the governing coalition is strong enough to get through “any parliamentary fight it requires” and will continue to move forward to “implement the government’s goals.”
Others felt that the fact that Olmert was forced to pay off opposition parties not to vote against is a sign of the coalition's weakness. Financial/political analyst Nechemia Shtrassler wrote in Haaretz, "The result of the lack of management [in the coalition] can be seen in the castration of the budget's arrangements law and the success of the MKs in removing large parts of it. In addition, Hirschson was forced to pay 600 million shekels to the opposition parties in order to enable the budget to pass. The coalition is crumbling."
Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik left the plenum in relief after the vote, but was confronted by several Labor Party members who warned her that the battle had barely begun.
Work on the 2007 budget is slated to begin very soon. The real fight, said Labor MKs, would come when the 2007 budget is drafted, and suggested that she “get in shape for a tough fight” for the next time around.
The budget for the year 2006 totals 271.4 billion shekels, an increase of 1.7% over the previous year's. The increase was to have been only 1%, but Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Finance Minister Avraham Hirschson jacked it up still more.
The United Torah Judaism (UTJ), National Union/National Religious Party (NU/NRP) and Yisrael Beiteinu opposition parties agreed to abstain in the vote, and not vote against. Their price tag for cooperating with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's coalition was high, however - nearly 600 million shekels.
The first condition was a provision that there would be no funds in the budget for the unilateral withdrawal plan - though money for the security fence is still there. In addition, some NIS 592 million will also go to Hesder Yeshivot, National Service, funds for Disengagement refugees and new immigrants, in addition to other organizations and causes chosen by the parties.
Only the Likud, Meretz and the Arab parties voted against the budget. In addition, MK Aryeh Eldad of the NU/NRP voted against, despite his party's agreement with the government not to do so.
Five Labor MKs rebelled against the government coalition by staying away from the plenum during the vote, and other Labor party members voted in favor despite their best instincts. “This is not the budget that any of us wanted to pass,” said Vilnai, “but we had to do it for the sake of the coalition. I hate that I must vote for it."
“The passage of the state budget by such an impressive margin is a clear expression of the coalition’s strength, and is good news for the markets, investors, and the Israeli public,” commented MK Avigdor Yitzhaki (Kadima). He added that the governing coalition is strong enough to get through “any parliamentary fight it requires” and will continue to move forward to “implement the government’s goals.”
Others felt that the fact that Olmert was forced to pay off opposition parties not to vote against is a sign of the coalition's weakness. Financial/political analyst Nechemia Shtrassler wrote in Haaretz, "The result of the lack of management [in the coalition] can be seen in the castration of the budget's arrangements law and the success of the MKs in removing large parts of it. In addition, Hirschson was forced to pay 600 million shekels to the opposition parties in order to enable the budget to pass. The coalition is crumbling."
Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik left the plenum in relief after the vote, but was confronted by several Labor Party members who warned her that the battle had barely begun.
Work on the 2007 budget is slated to begin very soon. The real fight, said Labor MKs, would come when the 2007 budget is drafted, and suggested that she “get in shape for a tough fight” for the next time around.