The new government held its first cabinet meeting yesterday, immediately after yesterday's swearing-in ceremony. "We're opening the cabinet table today, and we're also cleaning it. We're putting the divisions aside, we're working together," said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his opening remarks.
Netanyahu added, "We have excellent people here, talented people, experienced people, fresh people, and the only way we can succeed is to cooperate, which I am sure we will do. Cooperation, unity. I am very encouraged by the dialogue around this table, I encourage people to speak their minds, and I think that by listening to all sides we will ultimately make better and more reasoned decisions. Israel's citizens expect us to work together and get results. I want to thank all of you for the cooperation until now, and from now. I wish Israel's people a happy Passover, and our Christian citizens a happy Easter and we will bring good tidings to all of Israel's people. I am honored to open the cabinet meeting."
The government passed several proposals at its first meeting. The ministers unanimously approved amending the Basic Law: State Budget for 2009-12, to extend the deadline for approving the 2013 budget to 135 days from the date the 33rd government was established.
The government set a timetable for passing the budget: within 85 days from the swearing in, the government will submit a budget proposal to the Knesset, which will have 50 days to pass it in three plenum readings. The deadline for passing the 2013 budget is in early August. The government approved a directive to submit the bill to the Knesset plenum today.
The government also approved the composition of the ministerial committee for national security affairs (the political-security cabinet). Netanyahu will be the committee chairman, by law. Its members will be Minister of Defense Moshe Yaalon, Minister of Finance Yair Lapid, Minister of Public Security Yitzhak Aharonovitch, Minister of Justice Tzipi Livni, Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor Naftali Bennett, and Minister of Home Front Security Gilad Erdan.
The government also unanimously approved a bill to extend the terms of the chief rabbis, pursuant to the coalition agreement between Habayit Hayehudi and Likud-Beitenu. The bill will be submitted to the Knesset today for three plenum readings. Minister of Housing and Construction Uri Yehuda Ariel welcomed the decision, saying, "Alongside its economic and social commitment, the Israeli government today sets in the forefront of its concerns the people of Israel's spiritual and Jewish life, which is the Jewish and moral basis for all our activity on behalf of the people of Israel. In the coming period, we will also act to strengthen the Chief Rabbinate and restore its proper status among the general public."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on March 19, 2013
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