Netanyahu to cabinet: 'I'm not sure we had even one day of grace'

Israel's new right-leaning government has not enjoyed the honeymoon period traditional in politics, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the beginning of yesterday's cabinet meeting. "I can't say that we had 100 days of grace," he said. "I'm not sure we had even one day of grace."

Speaking on the government's activities since it took office a little more than three months ago, Netanyahu said his cabinet already had a number of outstanding achievements behind it, the main one being the establishment of a national unity government.

Netanyahu said the government was united in its approach to both political and economic issues. "We agreed to reach a package deal between the government, the Histadrut [labor federation] and the employers," he said. "That brings stability in the international maelstrom."

Netanyahu added that the budget would be passed soon, a two-year budget, an extreme rarity whether here or anywhere else in the world.

The prime minister also discussed the Israel Lands Administration reform bill, which passed its first reading in the Knesset. He mentioned the cabinet's decision yesterday to allow the new Bank of Israel Law to pass. "With this law we are anchoring in law the independence of the Bank of Israel," he said. "And in contrast, we are making possible proper supervision of salaries."

Netanyahu also cited the Gaza offensive last winter as an achievement, although he had criticized its results throughout his election campaign.

"There is no doubt that Operation Cast Lead provided an important foundation of deterrence, but we were tested. The State of Israel was tested by being fired on by various groups and organizations," he said.

Netanyahu added that he had given instructions to respond forcefully whenever Israel was fired on, and the result was that Israel was being fired on less.