Finance Ministry officials are meeting today for an intense discussion of the following question: How to pay for the current war? \"All the options are being explored,\" Finance Minister Silvan Shalom told Arutz-7 today. \"We can\'t create money out of nothing, and we have to cover these costs somehow. It can either come from significant budget cuts, new taxes, or an increase in the deficit. Nothing is sacred, and we will consider all options.\" Asked about a possible tax on stock market gains, he said that a committee is currently considering this, and implied that it is likely to recommend such a tax, although not before the end of May. One money-saver will be the abolition of the \"long school-day\" that was in effect in Judea and Samaria towns this year. The plan to lengthen the school year by a month has also been shelved.
Regarding the current warfare, Shalom said that he still insists that Arafat must be expelled: \"I have been saying this for ten months, because as long as he\'s here, the bloodshed will continue. Unfortunately, I was right… We were close to doing this after the Pesach Seder massacre, when Prime Minister Sharon proposed the idea to the government. Unfortunately, not only the Labor ministers didn\'t agree, but also several ministers from what is called the nationalist camp did not agree. Sharon held out until 6-6:30 in the morning, but finally gave in and went with the \'isolation\' idea. I said then that this idea would not work, for Zinni would want to meet with him, and Powell, and that\'s what happened... I still say that Arafat should be expelled, and the sooner the better. If not, he will one day come out of his isolation, but with a v-for-victory sign, making for a photograph that will go down - for us - in infamy… This man never abandoned the flag of terrorism; even the goal of his negotiating strategy is nothing less than the return of millions of Arab refugees to Israel. Therefore, by definition, he cannot be our partner with whom we can reach an agreement, and he will instead always resort to terrorism - therefore he must not be here.\"
Regarding the current warfare, Shalom said that he still insists that Arafat must be expelled: \"I have been saying this for ten months, because as long as he\'s here, the bloodshed will continue. Unfortunately, I was right… We were close to doing this after the Pesach Seder massacre, when Prime Minister Sharon proposed the idea to the government. Unfortunately, not only the Labor ministers didn\'t agree, but also several ministers from what is called the nationalist camp did not agree. Sharon held out until 6-6:30 in the morning, but finally gave in and went with the \'isolation\' idea. I said then that this idea would not work, for Zinni would want to meet with him, and Powell, and that\'s what happened... I still say that Arafat should be expelled, and the sooner the better. If not, he will one day come out of his isolation, but with a v-for-victory sign, making for a photograph that will go down - for us - in infamy… This man never abandoned the flag of terrorism; even the goal of his negotiating strategy is nothing less than the return of millions of Arab refugees to Israel. Therefore, by definition, he cannot be our partner with whom we can reach an agreement, and he will instead always resort to terrorism - therefore he must not be here.\"