The Israel Parliament began a 24-hour debate on the government’s budget last night. Opposition spokesmen representing the leftwing Mapam Party, the centrist General Zionists and rightwing Herut immediately announced their intention of voting against the government.
Dr. Moshe Sneh, Mapam leader, called for a reduction in the defense budget, insisting that it was “not needed for the defense of Israel but for a world imperialistic policy.” He asserted that the government’s record budget of 168,000,000 pounds will cut the immigration program, lower living standards, “oppress the poor” and “robs us of our political independence.” Dr. Sneh insisted that 45 percent of the anticipated income tax returns will come from the workers, who were also hit by price increases as a result of the government’s recent economic reforms.
Dr. Peretz Bernstein, General Zionist deputy, demanded that the budget be returned to committee, declaring that the government spokesman in the finance committee of Parliament had admitted his inability to provide exact figures on what the government could expect from the income tax. He charged that the budget presented by the government has no basis and that the new government economic program has “ruined” the budget.
Dr. Jochanan Bader, Herut deputy, said that the budget increase was a reflection of the inflation caused by the new economic policy. He added that the policy also lowers living standards in the country and hinders its normal development.
Israel Gori, chairman of the finance committee, speaking for the government, insisted that “the grave situation in the country” is reflected in the “grave” budget and makes necessary a heavy schedule of taxes. He maintained that in the past the government had given the public more service–such as health, welfare and education–than it could afford. Now, he stated, “we must lower our standards.” However, he pointed out that the government’s education appropriation was so low that it would have to ask for additional funds in the middle of the fiscal year.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
