The Knesset vote on the budget has been pushed off from noon until 4 PM today, giving rise to speculation that a compromise may be found after all. The Labor Party rejected a last-minute budget compromise this morning, and was preparing to leave Prime Minister Sharon's coalition government. Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, who has led his party to the brink of leaving the government over the budget, says that he hopes the mediators succeed in finding a compromise.
The Knesset vote is not likely to be held at 4 PM either, because the 17 Shas MKs have a "prior enagement" which they cannot forego. Shas leader Minister Eli Yeshai is meeting with Prime Minister Sharon this forenoon to ask that the vote be held later.
Labor ministers say that that if a compromise is not found, they plan to quit - preferably before the TV cameras - instead of being fired by the Prime Minster after casting their "nay" ballots against the budget. Talks were held between Sharon representatives and Labor party officials last night, with no results. Though Labor's departure will leave Sharon with a narrow coalition, he is likely to choose to call for early national elections.
The Knesset vote is not likely to be held at 4 PM either, because the 17 Shas MKs have a "prior enagement" which they cannot forego. Shas leader Minister Eli Yeshai is meeting with Prime Minister Sharon this forenoon to ask that the vote be held later.
Labor ministers say that that if a compromise is not found, they plan to quit - preferably before the TV cameras - instead of being fired by the Prime Minster after casting their "nay" ballots against the budget. Talks were held between Sharon representatives and Labor party officials last night, with no results. Though Labor's departure will leave Sharon with a narrow coalition, he is likely to choose to call for early national elections.