Sources inform "Globes" that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today reprimanded eight Likud MKs for their opposition to the VAT levy on fruit and vegetables and their general lack of discipline in recent weeks. Immediately after the weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu together with coalition chairman Likud MK Zeev Elkin and director general of the prime Minister's Office Eyal Gabai met with the eight MKs and threatened to withdraw the proposed budget if they do not vote for the bill in its first Knesset reading.
An angry Netanyahu said, "There are those of us who have to take decisions and there are those of us who must give support. Whoever hasn't got anything to say shouldn't talk and also shouldn't attack. If you haven't got anything good to say then don't say anything."
Netanyahu is especially miffed that the MKs have conducted their struggle in the media, through letter and meetings that they have called. Netanyahu said, "You are eating away at the coalition. How can I talk about discipline when my MKs are not disciplined?
