The political story of the week, aside from the upcoming elections, is the annual budget slated to come for its final Knesset votes this Wednesday. The Labor Party, the largest in the Knesset, decided last night to abstain in the vote - drawing it some measures of derision in that its objections to the budget were the very reason it quit the government and brought about new elections.
Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, who led the charge against the budget and out of the coalition before being unseated as party leader last month, said he would vote against the budget. Finance Ministry officials are conducting last-minute talks over some problematic clauses with MKs of Shas and other parties.
National Union MKs announced their support for the budget today after succeeding in obtaining increased funding for unemployment benefits and the absorption of immigrant scientists. Finance Minister Silvan Shalom said this morning, "There may be some small changes, but all in all it is important that the budget pass as is."
Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, who led the charge against the budget and out of the coalition before being unseated as party leader last month, said he would vote against the budget. Finance Ministry officials are conducting last-minute talks over some problematic clauses with MKs of Shas and other parties.
National Union MKs announced their support for the budget today after succeeding in obtaining increased funding for unemployment benefits and the absorption of immigrant scientists. Finance Minister Silvan Shalom said this morning, "There may be some small changes, but all in all it is important that the budget pass as is."