Knesset Finance Committee votes to extend budget deadline
Likud, Blue and White spar over how to make appointments
By GIL HOFFMANFinance Committee hearing, August 17, 2020(photo credit: ADINA VALMAN/KNESSET SPOKESPERSON)
The plenum decided by an 82 to 38 vote on Monday to advance Derech Eretz MK Zvi Hauser’s proposal to postpone the deadline to pass a state budget from August 24.The bill must still pass its crucial final readings, in which the Likud has not guaranteed its support. That support depends on negotiations with Blue and White, which hit a snag on Monday.The two parties are fighting over how key political appointments will be made. Likud wants a public committee on appointments. Blue and White wants what they are considering a search committee for all the appointmentsEarlier, the Knesset Finance Committee decided in a stormy meeting to advance the bill by an eight to five vote.If the bill does not pass by the current deadline, November elections would be initiated automatically. Because it involves changing a Basic Law, the bill would require a special majority of 61 MKs to pass into law.Hauser said his bill would restore calm and enable Israel to deal with the coronavirus without fear of an impending election.“Whoever thinks going to elections now would be good for the State of Israel is crazy,” Hauser said.Yesh Atid MK Mickey Levy heckled Hauser and engaged in an extended shouting match with him.“Who has bothered you and prevented you from passing the budget until now, you losers!” Levy shouted at Hauser.In the debate later in the Knesset plenum, Hauser said going to elections now would be “national suicide.” Levy said an extension of 100 days to pass the state budget would not help extend the length of the government, because Netanyahu has already started campaigning.
