The Knesset approved the second and third readings of the Budget Law late this afternoon in a 52-16 vote. A short time earlier, the addendum to the Budget Law passed in a 48-18 vote. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon left for Washington today before the passing of the bills, but only after securing a comfortable majority to back his proposals. Last night, the Prime Minister told reporters, \"As soon as we pass the budget, it will be one of growth. We will have to make a major effort this year so that the economy will emerge from the recession and achieve growth. I believe that with all of Israel\'s great talents, we can indeed do so. So I am optimistic.\"
Last night, intense deliberations on the addendum to the Budget Law continued in the Knesset plenum until 3:00 AM and resumed promptly this morning. Initially the opposition Meretz party attempted to filibuster the vote. Meretz had submitted 700 objections in order to delay the vote until after Sharon\'s departure for Washington.
Later however, Meretz backed off in exchange for a guarantee that Sharon would meet with Israel\'s disabled community leaders within 10 days to hammer out a solution. Over the past two months, the disabled have been engaged in a series of protests and hunger strikes outside of the government complex in hopes of persuading officials to earmark more funds for their needs. Before leaving for the US, Sharon met briefly with them for the first time since their protest began and promised that he would meet with them upon his return from Washington on Sunday.
Last night, intense deliberations on the addendum to the Budget Law continued in the Knesset plenum until 3:00 AM and resumed promptly this morning. Initially the opposition Meretz party attempted to filibuster the vote. Meretz had submitted 700 objections in order to delay the vote until after Sharon\'s departure for Washington.
Later however, Meretz backed off in exchange for a guarantee that Sharon would meet with Israel\'s disabled community leaders within 10 days to hammer out a solution. Over the past two months, the disabled have been engaged in a series of protests and hunger strikes outside of the government complex in hopes of persuading officials to earmark more funds for their needs. Before leaving for the US, Sharon met briefly with them for the first time since their protest began and promised that he would meet with them upon his return from Washington on Sunday.