Last night, the Knesset approved the two-year budget outline by a majority of 56 to 54. There was drama as the vote approached, when it became clear that the coalition led the opposition by just one vote, after Minister of National Infrastructures, Energy and Water Resources Yuval Steinitz went home without pairing off with an opposition MK.
At about 1:30 in the morning, Steinitz was rushed from his home to the Knesset in order to vote, and Shas chairman Aryeh Deri had to play for time at the podium until he arrived. Deri chose to speak about the origin of the name Machluf, which he added to his name during the last election campaign.
Close to 2 am the Knesset approved the plan for a two-year budget.
The Knesset members also set the timetable for passing the budget. The government will have to submit the budget to the Knesset by August 31, while the Knesset is due to give it second and third readings by November 19. A month after the start of the 2016 financial year, the minister of finance will be required to appear before the Knesset Finance Committee to report whether the two-year budget mechanism will continue permanently, or whether the state will revert to annual budgets.
Opposition members criticized the decision. Meretz leader Zehava Galon said, "The aim of this extension is political survival. Someone who begins his political career as minister of finance by exhibiting contempt for the Knesset does not presage anything good. This is contempt for the citizens of the country, for the role of the Knesset, and for Israel's democratic character. A government that has to wreck Basic Laws in order to stay in power should quit."
MK Manuel Trajtenberg (Labor) said, "In recent days, the prime minister has spoken a great deal about Greece, and about how far we are from the danger of sharing its fate. What is happening with the absence of a budget in the country is Greece, because when a country rides roughshod over its own laws, especially Basic Laws, it is liable, God forbid, to become like Greece. Every day without an approved budget means damage to the running of the country. The minister of finance claims he needs the time to pass reforms, but what has that to do with the 2015 budget, which could have been passed within 45 days?"
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on July 7, 2015
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