Israel’s Cabinet convened on Sunday to debate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s call for swingeing budget cuts to pay for the 50-day military campaign in Gaza.
Netanyahu, Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon and Finance Minister Yair lapid are seeking cuts of two per cent from every Government Ministry — other than defence — to raise about 2 billion shekels (US $561 million, 425 million euros).According to documents released by the Cabinet office ahead of weekly meeting, the biggest proposed cut is to the Education Ministry, which is being asked to give up 480 million shekels.
Welfare and social services are being asked for 62.6 million and health spending is to be trimmed by 43 million.Welfare Minister Meir Cohen protested, saying there was no more fat on his budget to trim. “From whom will we takeIJ From thosewho have nothing to put in their children’s sandwiches for schoolIJ” he said on Israeli Army radio.