The cabinet today passed the Trajtenberg report in a 21:8 vote, at the second attempt, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was forced to postpone a vote last week when he lacked a majority. Today's vote came after he struck a deal with Minister of Foreign Affairs Avigdor Liberman to win Israel Beiteinu's support for the report.
Israel Beiteinu switched to supporting the Trajtenberg report after securing more benefits for working couples and IDF soldiers and people in National Service.
Opponents included Minister of Galilee and Negev Development Silvan Shalom, who said that the report violated his world view. Minister of Defense Ehud Barak and Shas chairman Minister of Interior Eli Yishai also voted against the report.
Netanyahu said, "I made a promise and I kept it. The Trajtenberg report is good for Israel's citizens. It lowers the cost of living, cuts taxes, increases disposable income, greatly participates in the financing of preschool education, and makes housing more available."
A top Shas official said, "The government should either insert a public housing clause into the law, or we'll act as an opposition and torpedo the report in Knesset."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on October 9, 2011
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