The Knesset on Wednesday passed the 2011-2012 biennial state budget in its first reading, a major accomplishment for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. The vote passed in a 53-36 vote.

The prime minister did not rely on miracles, but sent coalition leader MK Ze’ev Elkin to meet with MKs from Yahadut HaTorah seeking to ensure a majority vote would be present in the plenum session. The decision was made to permit MKs ‘freedom of vote’ rather than impose party discipline and MK R’ Moshe Gafne, who chairs the Knesset Finance Committee, opposed the two-year budget. MK Maklev and Deputy Minister Porush absented themselves from the vote while Deputy Minister Litzman and MK Moses voted in favor.

The Labor Party also permitted members to vote their conscience and members of the rebel faction did not support the vote.

Proponents of the biennial budget explain it provide coalition stability, alleviating the need to enter into budgetary negotiations every years, as well as freeing MKs and ministers for many other areas demanding their attention. They boast that Israel’s acceptance into the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) is another direct result of the biennial budget.

Despite the coalition stresses, primarily the recent Ramat Shlomo crisis with the United States, the prime minister was successful in passing this key item, something that signals he maintains control over the coalition.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)