"The Ministry of Finance's budget proposal is impractical and irresponsible," said the Labor Party today. The party is part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition. "It's a mix of economic ignorance, social and human hardheartedness, harm to education and jobs, and utter irresponsibility towards the country's defense and current and future challenges," the statement said.
The statement came at the end of a Labor Party meeting on the budget attended by Minister of Defense and party chairman Ehud Barak and Histadrut chairman Ofer Eini.
A Labor Party minister said, "The budget should be increased as much as possible. An economic package deal is needed that supports education and jobs, and provides a genuine response to defense needs. Without these three things, we're headed for a political crisis. We hope that everyone will work immediately to create a budget that will respond to the essential needs of the country."
Minister of Welfare and Social Services Isaac Herzog slammed the proposed cuts. "This is a fantastical collection of edicts. There's no limit to the cynicism. The prime minister will have to decide if he wants a political crisis or find a solution to expand the budget."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on May 7, 2009
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2009