Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday morning urged lawmakers to support his initiative to pass the 2006 budget bill as soon as possible in a bid to help Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and „out of national responsibility.” The 2006 budget bill was prepared by Netanyahu before he quit the government in August 2005 and was later relayed to Olmert who took over the Finance Ministry. Olmert made only minor changes to the bill, which was later put on hold as the country entered election period. Without its budget being approved as planned in December, Israel continues to be run within the framework of the 2005 budget. „Lets pass the budget as it is, I understand that there were minimal changes made to it… I’ve received positive reactions to the initiative,” Netanyahu told Israel Radio. „I call on the Knesset factions to support this initiative,” Netanyahu said. „I call for national responsibility at this initiative to adopt the budget.” „It’s obvious that Israel needs a budget. I fear for Israel?s economy,” he went on to say. „Once there is a budget for Israel, changes could be made to it.” MKs from Shinui, Likud and Kadima have expressed their support in the initiative, Israel Radio reported. But Olmert’s associates downplayed the initiative, calling it an election spin. Shinui MK Avraham Poraz first was the first to suggest the move over the weekend. „This is no time for haggling and bargaining. We are talking about a temporary budget for two or three months in order not to paralyze Israel’s economy.” „[Labor Chairman] Amir Peretz and other parties can’t make petty demands to get what they want. In the final analysis, if the budget isn’t approved, the economy will face a catastrophe,” Poraz said. Labor MK Shalom Simhon on Sunday also proposed such an initiative during a meeting with Peretz.
BPI-info
BPI-info
