Last update - 00:00 02/08/2007
Absorption Minister holds hold emergency talks on planned budget cuts
By Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz Correspondent
Minister of Immigrant Absorption Ya'akov Edri held an emergency meeting in Tel Aviv on Thursday, in which he expressed his opposition to the treasury's intention to drastically reduce the immigrant absorption budget.
According to sources in Edri's office, the proposed budget cut totals roughly NIS 600 million. In a press release, Edri had harsh words for Finance Ministry officials, saying "the treasury is bringing about a disaster for the State of Israel."
According to the Immigrant Absorption Ministry, the vast majority of the planned cuts in the 2008 State Budget is being imposed on programs related to immigration, and thus cast a doubt on the ministry's continued operation.
Ministry officials have held numerous deliberations in recent weeks on how to respond to the proposed cuts, and are even considering taking the unusual measure of launching a public campaign against the cuts.
Edri is considered to be among the Kadima MKs who are closest to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and this is seen as an uncharacteristic step for him. It is yet unclear whether or not he intends to vote against the budget in its current form.
Among other things, the ministry will be forced to close its housing department, which provides housing solutions to immigrants who come primarily from countries in crisis. The ministry will also have to cancel the tax benefits such immigrants receive. In addition, the ministry will be forced to cancel the special housing assistance provided to elderly, single parent, and disabled immigrants, as well as a special program designed to help absorb immigrant scientists, which serves some 150 people annually.
MKs from Kadima, Likud, Yisrael Beiteinu and Shas participated in the emergency meeting, including Knesset Finance Committee Chairman Stas Misezhnikov, whose committee will have to approve the budget before it is handed over to the Knesset plenum.