Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., December 27, 2007 Tevet 18, 5768 | | Israel Time: 23:09 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File Magazine

Finance Minister Roni Bar-On. (Eyal Warshavsky) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 23:05 27/12/2007 Knesset plenum approves 2008 State Budget in third reading By Zvi Zrahiya, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Labor party, Budget  The Knesset Plenum on Thursday passed the 2008 State Budget in a 64 to 32 vote. The NIS 314 billion budget was passed in its third reading five days before the end of the fiscal year. Several prominent MKs abstained from the vote, including former defense minister Amir Peretz, who leveled harsh criticism on the budget. Fellow Labor MKs Shelly Yahimovitch, Nadia Hilo and Yoram Marciano also abstained from the vote. Advertisement Hilo stated that although the budget had some positive stipulations, it "bore the marks of (Likud Chairman) Benjamin Netanyahu's influence." Netanyahu himself abstained from the vote due to an illness. Finance Minister Roni Bar-On (Kadima) said government policy must combine setting clear fiscal targets and the promotion of the growth of the national economy in ways that will help Israel compete in the global marketplace. Bar-On added that the need for strict fiscal discipline has been sharpened due to economic indications from overseas, and that the possibility of a slowdown in the economies of several states worldwide and the overall instability of the global market, "require Israel to mount a fiscal policy of restraint." Related articles: MKs passes Economic Arrangements Bill, to vote next on state budget,/a> Sneh: Budget fails to address security threat to home front Government to cut 2008 budget to pay for deals with coalition partners Bookmark to del.icio.us Who killed Benazir Bhutto? Conspiracy theories over the assassination of the Pakistani opposition leader abound. Obama and Israel Israelis following the U.S. elections have difficulty understanding Obama's approach.

Today Online Shmuel Rosner: Israel has Obama's backing to stay a Jewish state Responses: 151 Rioting engulfs Pakistan in wake of Bhutto assassination Responses: 88 Amira Hass: Will PA ire at settlements spark a new Intifada? Responses: 68 Editorial: They were brought here as Jews, so treat them as such Responses: 53 Source: Turkey is studying support from Israel 'very closely' Responses: 72 Rosner's Domain Rosner's Mailbox: Paul and Huckabee supporters' letters, my responses Jews, enjoy your mistletoe (WTR) Obama backs Israel as Jewish state Poll: The most likely event to happen in 2008 More Headlines 22:49 IDF kills eight militants in Gaza, including top Islamic Jihad commander 22:52 Rioting engulfs Pakistan in wake of Benazir Bhutto assassination 21:19 Bush: Bhutto slaying 'cowardly'; Peres says 'shocked' by attack 23:05 Knesset plenum approves 2008 State Budget in third reading 23:07 Barack Obama backs Israel remaining a Jewish state 21:37 Top PA official: Israel approved import of 50 armored vehicles 21:44 ANALYSIS: Conspiracy theories abound over Benazir Bhutto slaying 21:57 IDF: Probes of suspected crimes against Palestinians up 36% 14:12 U.S. Congressman: Syria wrong if it thinks Democrat would give if better deal Previous Editions Select Day 26 dec 25 dec 24 dec 23 dec 21 dec 20 dec 19 dec 18 dec 17 dec 16 dec 14 dec 13 dec

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