An interim budget bill squeaked through the Knesset today by a vote of 59-57, ensuring Premier Menachem Begin’s shaky coalition government of survival at least beyond the April 25 deadline for Israel’s withdrawal from Sinai.
A repetition of the 58-58 vote deadlock on a no-confidence motion two weeks ago was avoided due to the abstention by Mordechai Ben-Porat of the two-man Telem faction. The other Telem member, former Finance Minister Yigal Hurwitz, voted against the government. The Labor opposition, with one Knesset member abroad, was unprepared to block the measure’s passage on its second and third readings.
The interim budget will enable the government to function when the new fiscal year begins April 1, pending Knesset approval of the regular budget. The Knesset, which starts its Passover recess this week, will not convene again until May.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
