The government voted today to finance the country\'s growing security needs by cutting three billion shekels in other ministries\' budgets. Shas and Labor party ministers - except for Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer - voted against; Shas had proposed a national loan in which every household lends the country a fixed amount. A similar loan was implemented for the Peace for Galilee War in 1982.
Some of the 13 ministers in the security cabinet complained about not having been consulted on Friday when the decision on the massive retaliation was made; the decision was made in the security mini-security, staffed only by Prime Minister Sharon, Foreign Minister Peres, and Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer. Others, such as Interior Minister Eli Yeshai, dismissed this criticism. \"The decision to carry out the operation was made in the proper forum given the circumstances,\" Yeshai said. Justice Minister Meir Shetreet, associated with the left-wing of the Likud, also said he totally accepted the decision made by the security mini-cabinet to bomb the PA targets. The full cabinet later approved the government\'s policy of targeting selected terrorist leaders.
Some of the 13 ministers in the security cabinet complained about not having been consulted on Friday when the decision on the massive retaliation was made; the decision was made in the security mini-security, staffed only by Prime Minister Sharon, Foreign Minister Peres, and Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer. Others, such as Interior Minister Eli Yeshai, dismissed this criticism. \"The decision to carry out the operation was made in the proper forum given the circumstances,\" Yeshai said. Justice Minister Meir Shetreet, associated with the left-wing of the Likud, also said he totally accepted the decision made by the security mini-cabinet to bomb the PA targets. The full cabinet later approved the government\'s policy of targeting selected terrorist leaders.