Nineteen Ministers voted in favor of the budget and four Shas party MKs voted against it. Labor party chairman Defense Minister Amir Peretz abstained.
Peretz threatened earlier in the evening that his party would break up the government if Kadima did not meet the commitment it made during coalition talks to raise the minimum wage.
The government agreed to compromise on its original budget proposal, increasing the minimum wage by slightly smaller amounts than originally promised, beginning with a raise of NIS 125 per month, starting in April 2007. The next increase will not come until January 2008, six months later than originally pledged, and will bring the hike up from NIS 125 to a total of NIS 140 per month.
Extra funds were allocated for use in rebuilding war-torn communities in the north in the aftermath of the recent war with Hizbullah terrorists in Lebanon.
The most critical stage for the budget and the government will be the vote in the Knesset, which is to deal with the issue next month. Shas ministers said they expect the government to satisfy their demands by the time the Knesset votes on the budget.
Peretz threatened earlier in the evening that his party would break up the government if Kadima did not meet the commitment it made during coalition talks to raise the minimum wage.
The government agreed to compromise on its original budget proposal, increasing the minimum wage by slightly smaller amounts than originally promised, beginning with a raise of NIS 125 per month, starting in April 2007. The next increase will not come until January 2008, six months later than originally pledged, and will bring the hike up from NIS 125 to a total of NIS 140 per month.
Extra funds were allocated for use in rebuilding war-torn communities in the north in the aftermath of the recent war with Hizbullah terrorists in Lebanon.
The most critical stage for the budget and the government will be the vote in the Knesset, which is to deal with the issue next month. Shas ministers said they expect the government to satisfy their demands by the time the Knesset votes on the budget.