Last update - 00:00 23/01/2007
Finance Committee okays NIS 27M budget for Lieberman's ministry
By Zvi Zrahiya, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service
The Knesset Finance Committee on Tuesday approved the allocation of NIS 27 million toward the establishment of a ministry of strategic affairs, to be headed by Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
The allocated funds would cover a year's salary for 30 ministry workers. The director general of the ministry, Hagai Peleg, has dismissed claims that the ministry would be superfluous, calling it crucial for state security.
MK Shelly Yachimovich (Labor) voted against allocating funds for the ministry, along with members of the opposition.
The Finance Committee last week rejected the Finance Ministry's request to allocate a budget for the ministry. Committee members said they had not been given sufficient information as to the need for such ministry.
"Why exactly does a ministry for strategic affairs need to be established," Nissan Slomiansky (NRP-NU) asked the treasury's representative during deliberations last week.
The representative said in response, "I'm not the person who can explain the need for the ministry."
During those deliberations, the Finance Committee approved the allocation of NIS 33 million for Liberman's personal security.