During a Shas faction meeting in Knesset, party leader Minister Aryeh Deri addressed his success in incorporating many of Shas’ demands in the state budget. He explained “We succeeded with Siyata Dishmaya to keep our promises made to voters before the elections, to see to the needs of the forgotten, the weaker sectors of society”.

Deri boasted some of the changes in the budget that he claims credit for including;

· An increase in monthly child allowance payments

· Increasing minimum wage to NIS 28 and hour, and in the future it will climb to NIS 30.

· Seeing to the needs of those eligible for public housing to the tune of NIS 700 million, which will appear in the budget to permit people to buy apartments in good areas.

· Zero value added tax on public transportation for all.

· Zero value added tax on water and electricity for the poor.

Deri added it was a difficult battle and he is proud of the party’s accomplishments.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)