Prime Minister Ariel Sharon hurriedly summoned 30 economic leaders to lobby Labor Party chairman and Minister of Defense Benjamin Ben-Eliezer not to break up the national unity government, and to support the budget on its first reading. Minister of Finance Silvan Shalom also attended the meeting.
At a meeting lasting over two hours, Sharon asked the economic leaders for public support of the 2003 budget. At the same time, Sharon did not rule out changes in the budget between the first reading and the second and third readings.
”The economy is in a critical state. It will be very grave if we fail to pass the budget because of political considerations,” Sharon told the business leaders. “Everyone is watching us. Anyone who votes against the budget will be fired immediately.”
The economic leaders announced they would meet Ben-Eliezer in a last attempt to convince him not to break up the national unity government, and to support the budget.
In a rare public statement, Bank Leumi chairman Eitan Raff said, “The budget is imperfect, but failure to pass it will have grave results for financial stability and Israel’s credit rating. Not passing the budget will have an extreme effect on the economy. We came to this meeting gladly, because we’re worried about the severe consequences of not passing the budget.”
Strauss-Elite Group chairperson Ofra Lahat-Strauss said, “There’s a serious economic crisis. What has to be done in order to pull the economy out of the mud should be done, and quickly. The government is making a genuine effort, but it’s not enough. All the parties have to vote for the budget on the first reading. We don’t understand how any party can vote against the budget.”
After the meeting, the business leaders appealed to Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Shalom Simhon, suggesting that the Labor Party abstain tomorrow on the first reading of the budget bill. In return Sharon and Shalom will promise to arrange the Labor Party’s budget demands for pensioners and students before the second and third readings, and reconsider the budget for Jewish settlements in the territories.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on October 29, 2002