At least 2,000 people - many of them Likud voters - protested outside the Knesset today against the emergency economic budget plan being debated at the same time on the other side of the legislature walls. The ten-hour debate is expected to end around 8 PM with a vote in favor of the first reading of the plan, as the coalition government of Likud (40 Knesset seats), Shinui (15), National Union (7), and NRP (6), has a handy majority. This, despite the fact that three Likud MKs - David Levy, Chaim Katz, and Ayoub Kara - and possibly one from Shinui, plan to vote against the plan. Levy spoke strongly against the budget program and its cuts to the lower classes, saying that he wishes all the MKs would be governed only by their consciences on this matter, and not by party discipline.
The National Religious Party, whose ministers voted against the plan in the government, said it would vote in favor this evening of the bill's first reading. Party leader Effie Eitam, the Minister of Housing, met this morning with Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, and said afterwards that he had found an "attentive ear" to the party's gripes against the plan. He and the party's other MKs made it clear today that if in fact the changes requested by his party are not inserted, they will vote against it on the final readings.
The National Religious Party, whose ministers voted against the plan in the government, said it would vote in favor this evening of the bill's first reading. Party leader Effie Eitam, the Minister of Housing, met this morning with Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, and said afterwards that he had found an "attentive ear" to the party's gripes against the plan. He and the party's other MKs made it clear today that if in fact the changes requested by his party are not inserted, they will vote against it on the final readings.