The cabinet on Sunday, during its weekly meeting, voted to lift the restriction that limits the number of cabinet ministers to 19. This was done to accommodate the exaggerated demands being made by parties who are likely to become members of the next coalition government, including Yahadut Hatorah and Shas.

In his comments at the beginning of the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday, PM Netanyahu addressed coalition negotiations, stating, “Regarding the coalition, I regret that the parties are still in the treetops. I hope that a way will be found soon to bring them down to the ground of reality so that together we can form a strong and stable government for the State of Israel that will continue to lead the country to new heights.”

The limit on the number of ministers that was in place was set by the 19th Knesset, when the Yesh Atid party headed by Yair Lapid decided it was time to end waste and have Ministers without portfolio who do nothing other than cost taxpayers money.

The Movement for Quality Government stated, “Prime Minister Netanyahu surrendered today to political blackmail, when the Israeli government took another step in turning Israel into a banana republic that distributes jobs to associates at the expense of the public coffers and the public interest. Small and unnecessary offices with an inflated and wasteful economic mechanism whose only function is to respect the minister who can fill the office with his political appointments – all at our expense.”

MK (Labor) MK Shelly Yacimovich responded to the decision and said: “The government’s decision to cancel the restriction on the number of ministers is another corrupt and abandoned payment by Netanyahu, who is prepared to pay any price, either financial or national, to turn the Knesset into a refuge and escape from the fear of justice. The ministers who were prepared to take possession of portfolios of nothing, who are also partners in the corruption and destruction of democracy, also make fun of themselves.”

Many other criticisms of the same nature were heard from members of the opposition parties.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)