Coalition whip and Kadima MK Avigdor Yitzchaki, responsible for coordinating the coalition in the Knesset, says that the refusal by two Labor MKs to back the proposed budget cuts in the Finance Committee is just about the last straw.
Labor MKs Avishai Braverman and Orit Noked said they would not vote for the proposed 1.8-billion shekel cut that would affect almost all government ministries. "I cannot continue to vote against my conscience," Braverman said. The former President of Ben-Gurion University in Be'er Sheva entered politics on the Labor list late last year, promising to make the budget more weaker-class friendly.
The proposed budget cuts called for a 6% slash in most government ministries, except for the Public Security ministry (3%) and the Welfare and Health ministries (no cut at all). A spokesperson for MK Orit Noked explained to Arutz-7, however, that the cut would really have been an average of 9%.
For instance, the spokesperson said, 33% of the budget for housing aid for the needy was to have been cut, as well as large amounts from the Veterans Law, the development of the Galilee, the development of new industrial zones and Torah education. "The cuts would have affected the people who need the money most," she said, "cutting salaries, jobs and [money for] suppliers."
When Yitzchaki saw that he did not have the required majority for the cut, he had the vote postponed. This is the second time that Labor has thwarted the proposed cuts - and it infuriated Yitzchaki, who said he would recommend that Kadima begin coalition negotiations with other parties that might replace Labor. "The Labor Party's ministers in the government approved the cuts," he said, "and now two MKs come along and vote against?! I'm tired of these games!"
Finance Ministry officials were upset by the lack of a decision, and announced that as of tomorrow, they would not transfer reserve soldiers' salaries to their employers.
MK Braverman said he must be loyal to his voters, namely, the weaker classes, and not merely "get back to them in three years, at the next election." He said he knows that the State of Israel has the money to prevent the welfare cuts.
His party colleague, Minister Yitzchak Herzog, said in response, "This is not the time to dismantle the coalition." He said that the emergency needs now are the war effort and rebuilding the north, and other needs must take a back seat. "If you try to pull the rope from both ends, it will end up ripping," Herzog said.
The coalition currently numbers 67 MKs, comprising Kadima (29), Labor (19), Shas (12), and the Pensioners (7). Kadima has been flirting with Avigdor Lieberman's right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu party (11), and with the hareidi-religious United Torah Judaism (6). Both these parties would be required to ensure a majority for a Labor-free coalition.
Labor MKs Avishai Braverman and Orit Noked said they would not vote for the proposed 1.8-billion shekel cut that would affect almost all government ministries. "I cannot continue to vote against my conscience," Braverman said. The former President of Ben-Gurion University in Be'er Sheva entered politics on the Labor list late last year, promising to make the budget more weaker-class friendly.
The proposed budget cuts called for a 6% slash in most government ministries, except for the Public Security ministry (3%) and the Welfare and Health ministries (no cut at all). A spokesperson for MK Orit Noked explained to Arutz-7, however, that the cut would really have been an average of 9%.
For instance, the spokesperson said, 33% of the budget for housing aid for the needy was to have been cut, as well as large amounts from the Veterans Law, the development of the Galilee, the development of new industrial zones and Torah education. "The cuts would have affected the people who need the money most," she said, "cutting salaries, jobs and [money for] suppliers."
When Yitzchaki saw that he did not have the required majority for the cut, he had the vote postponed. This is the second time that Labor has thwarted the proposed cuts - and it infuriated Yitzchaki, who said he would recommend that Kadima begin coalition negotiations with other parties that might replace Labor. "The Labor Party's ministers in the government approved the cuts," he said, "and now two MKs come along and vote against?! I'm tired of these games!"
Finance Ministry officials were upset by the lack of a decision, and announced that as of tomorrow, they would not transfer reserve soldiers' salaries to their employers.
MK Braverman said he must be loyal to his voters, namely, the weaker classes, and not merely "get back to them in three years, at the next election." He said he knows that the State of Israel has the money to prevent the welfare cuts.
His party colleague, Minister Yitzchak Herzog, said in response, "This is not the time to dismantle the coalition." He said that the emergency needs now are the war effort and rebuilding the north, and other needs must take a back seat. "If you try to pull the rope from both ends, it will end up ripping," Herzog said.
The coalition currently numbers 67 MKs, comprising Kadima (29), Labor (19), Shas (12), and the Pensioners (7). Kadima has been flirting with Avigdor Lieberman's right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu party (11), and with the hareidi-religious United Torah Judaism (6). Both these parties would be required to ensure a majority for a Labor-free coalition.