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Finance Minister: In coalition moves, Netanyahu harmed Israel
By Haaretz Service
Tags: Ronny Bar-On 

Finance Minister Ronny Bar-On (Kadima) criticized Likud Chair and opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday for having caused great harm to Israel's economy by convincing Shas not to join the coalition of Kadima leader Tzipi Livni, thus bringing about early elections.

"Benjamin Netanyahu succeeded politically, but as a public figure he should have displayed statesman-like behavior," Bar-On said. "As opposition leader, it was perfectly legitimate for him to want to end Kadima's rule, but as someone who should have a wider more holistic view, he caused extensive damage to the markets by not joining Livni's government and by preventing Shas from joining," Bar-On told Army Radio.

The finance minister called for a joint coalition with Labor and Likud after the election so that Israel can achieve the stability it needs. "The political instability costs ten times more than the cost of elections," Bar-On said. "Therefore, we need a wide, issue-oriented coalition. We can find common ground even with Netanyahu."
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Bar-On called for a quick election process, saying that as finance minister in the midst of a global economic crisis "what we need in this chaotic political reality is take action regarding the financial crisis. We need to shorten the election process to 60 days."

In regard to failed coalition talks between Livni and Shas, which broke down over Livni's refusal to comply with the ultra-Orthodox party's demands, the finance minister stressed that though he had reservations, he never issued an ultimatum along the lines of "if [Shas Chair] Eli Yishai is in, then I'm out."

He referred to Shas demand to increase the budget for child stipends, saying that "It is no secret how I fell about child stipends. I've clearly and publicly stated my stance, some of my advisors might say too clearly, I've said that with the economy the way it is, it is a mistake to increase spending. I knew that there was a chance that insisting on this could result in early elections."

Bar-On rejected the claim that Israel has enough money to increase the stipends, saying that "the claim that Israel has unlimited resources is baseless. There are more worthy causes that warrant an increased budget, such as minimizing socio-economic gaps, among other things."

The finance minister also rejected the argument that Shas refused to join Livni's coalition on the basis of her refusal to promise the division of Jerusalem would never enter into peace negotiations with the Palestinians.
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