Conflicting messages: Sources close to Economy Minister Nir Barkat said Sunday evening that he had made it clear to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "that he will not vote for the budget as it is."
Those around Barkat, who did not come to a vote on the state budget deficit law, said: "The budget as it stands will lead to an economic collapse. This is a bad budget with no response to growth problems and no critical assistance to businesses in the periphery. Minister Barkat made it clear to Netanyahu that he would not vote for the budget as it is."
Barkat also did not arrive earlier at a meeting of the Likud faction. The state budget deficit law passed by a vote of 53-59, and all Knesset members from the state camp voted against it.
However, the minister himself sounded more conciliatory. "The Economy Ministry's budget as it currently stands does not provide a satisfactory response to businesses in the south and north. I asked for an injection of NIS 250 million to help businesses and local authorities in the war zones in order to prevent their collapse. I also demanded a substantial growth budget for 2024 in order to jumpstart the economy after the war. I believe we can reach an agreement on this issue, everyone understands that this should be our top priority."
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