Israeli projects escape government cutbacks

摘要

The Israeli government has reached an agreement over controversial plans to cut the budget for new infrastructure projects, which have been put forward as part of proposals intended to reduce the country's Shekels 39bn ($US 10.8bn) budget deficit. Under the plans revealed in April by finance minister Mr Yair Lapid, construction would be suspended on a number of rail projects, including the 60km Jezreel Valley Railway from Haifa to Afula and Bet Sha'an and the 22km Acre -Carmiel line, which the finance ministry argues are not commercially viable.