Shas party leader Minister Aryeh Deri announced he would not vote for the state budget if Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu does not agree to his zero value added tax for electricity, water and public transportation for the poor. With time it became clear to Deri that Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon is not allocating the funds for the zero VAT for electricity and it now appears Deri is backing down.

It appears that after Deri spoke with Knesset Finance Committee Chairman Moshe Gafne, the committee will convene on Sunday, 3 Kislev at 10:00 AM, to vote on the state budget.

Deri’s staff released a message that the minister is not going to compromise on zero VAT on water and public transportation, without mention of electricity.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)