Olmert averts national service budget cuts for next year
By EHUD ZION WALDOKS
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ordered NIS 18 million transferred to cover the national service budget and another NIS 60m. allocated in next year's budget on Thursday morning, staving off a vast reduction in the program which was set to go into effect at the end of the month.
The Education Ministry had decided to cut the program's budget as part of overall money-saving efforts.
MK Ami Ayalon, who is the minister responsible for national service, initiated the meeting with Olmert to address the issue. The budget will be transferred from the Prime Minister's Office by next week, Ayalon's spokesman said.