Israel's Minister without Portfolio, David Levy tendered his resignation from Sharon government Sunday night only three months after joining it, in protest over the newly proposed 2003 state budget.
In his letter of resignation, Levy charged that "this government, the broadest in the history of the state, is not capable of deciding its policies, and its own members do not know its goals." To Prime Minister Ariel Sharon he wrote: "The economic plan that was presented the other day with your blessing expresses your lack of awareness of the deep distress of thousands of Israeli families. For these reasons I can no long fulfill my obligations as a member of this government, and I hand in my resignation."
Finance Minister Silvan Shalom responded that Levy "has never approved the economic plan of any government of which he was a member."
This is the third consecutive government that Levy has resigned from. In July 2000 he stepped down as foreign minister in protest over concessions then prime minister Ehud Barak was preparing to make at the Camp David summit. In January 1998, Levy resigned as Binyamin Netanyahu's foreign minister also in protest over proposed budget cuts.
Although the departure of Levy and his three-seat faction from the government poses no immediate danger to the coalition, his resignation further complicates Sharon and Shalom's effort to pass their proposed budget, The Jerusalem Post reported. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
