Mofaz to vote against budget

Rejects Ministry of Finance's refusal to cover airlines security costs. Israeli airlines currently spend $105 million a year on security
 
Minister of Transport Shaul Mofaz said last week that due to Ministry of Finance's refusal to cover the security costs of Israeli airlines, he will vote against the 2009 budget.
 
Israeli airlines currently spend $105 million a year on security, of which the government currently contributes $50 million. In January 2008, Mofaz gave the airlines commitment that the sum contributed by the government would be increased in the 2009 economics arrangements bill to $80 million, but so far this promise has not been kept.
 
In a statement issued by the Ministry, Mofaz noted that early this year he gave a commitment to El Al Israel Airlines, to cover security costs. El Al in return had waived its exclusivity on a number of routes in exchange for government increased participation in its security costs.