| Sharon thanks loyal politicians for budget The Israeli Parliament approved a budget for 2005 in the amount of 266.6 billion shekels ($62 billion). If this had not happened before April 1, the government would have had to resign. 58 deputies voted for the budget in the second and third readings, 36 voted against it and one abstained. The remaining 25 Knesset members were absent from the vote.
There was a fierce struggle over the budget, and just last week Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was not confident of success. But on the eve of the vote, Israeli politicians confirmed their ability to bargain. Each party that supported the budget bill received a substantial reward from the Prime Minister.
The secular Shinui party, whose support decided the fate of the budget, received 700 million shekels (more than $160 million). The party promises to spend this money on helping cultural figures, students, reservists, new repatriates, as well as on projects in the field of environmental protection. Sharon promised the religious party “United Torah Judaism” (Yahadut HaTorah) 290 million shekels (slightly less than $70 million) for the needs of religious educational institutions controlled by it.
The left-wing Labor party received not only 650 million shekels ($151 million), but also ministerial posts. Where the substantial sum will go, the party leaders have not yet said much. But the Arab party “United Arab List”, represented in the Knesset by two deputies, will probably traditionally spend the 120 million shekels (almost $28 million) that it received for budget support on the development of Arab villages.
In the budget story, Sharon generally showed himself to be a very grateful and generous prime minister. Channel Nine of Israeli television reported that Ariel Sharon promised the post of Israeli ambassador to one of the post-Soviet republics to Mikhail Nudelman, a Knesset member from the National Unity party, who, unlike his colleagues, supported the budget. However, in an interview with Vremya Novostei, Professor Mikhail Nudelman said that he supported the budget purely for economic reasons, and called information about his possible appointment to the post of ambassador “a blatant provocation.” “I don’t see myself in that position,” Nudelman said. - But in general, voting on the budget has turned into a political process. Those who support Sharon's program of unilateral separation from the Palestinians voted for the budget. I support secession, so I also supported the bill.”
There were reports in the Israeli press that Sharon would thank other politicians for supporting the budget with new appointments. We are talking primarily about members of the right-wing Likud party loyal to the prime minister. The leader of the party is Sharon himself, but lately the internal party opposition has been acting against him. It is expected that Likud members such as Zeev Boim and Roni Bar-On will receive ministerial positions. Representatives of the left-wing Labor party will also be thanked; in particular, Efraim Sneh may join the government.
The result was an expansion of the Israeli cabinet. Already yesterday, the government approved Sharon's decision to appoint new ministers and deputy ministers. The Knesset will vote on the issue next week. The government will now have 34 ministers and deputy ministers, including five ministers without portfolios. Thus, three ministerial positions and five deputy positions will be added to the government.
Against this background, rumors have resurfaced about the possible resignation of Sharon’s main rival within the Likud party, Israeli Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Relations between Sharon and Netanyahu cannot be called good, but still, the prime minister, by dismissing the finance minister, risks losing the support of his party, which is already on the verge of a split due to the program of unilateral separation from the Palestinian Gaza Strip. Maria GRISHINA, Jerusalem, Daniel DOV, Tel Aviv |
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