The Knesset approved a record-breaking NIS 755 billion (USD 206 billion) budget, marking the largest in Israel’s history. The budget passed after a marathon session on Tuesday, securing a final vote of 66-52.
Defense and Education Get Top Allocations
The newly approved budget allocates:
- NIS 109.8 billion (USD 29.5 billion) to the Ministry of Defense, maintaining its position as the highest-funded sector.
- NIS 92 billion (USD 24.7 billion) to the Ministry of Education, highlighting the government’s focus on education.
- NIS 59 billion (USD 15.8 billion) to the Ministry of Health, ensuring continued support for the healthcare sector.
Smotrich Calls It a ‘Victory Budget’
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich addressed the Knesset plenum before the voting and said, “This is a war budget. And with God’s help, it will also be the victory budget.”
Legal Deadline Pressured Budget Approval
The government faced immense pressure to finalize the budget before the March 31 legal deadline. Failure to pass the budget by this date would have resulted in the automatic dissolution of the government and triggered national elections.
Yeshiva Student Draft Dispute Resolved
Ahead of the session, leaders of the United Torah Judaism party withdrew their threat to oppose the budget after meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The disagreement was centered around efforts to draft yeshiva students into the military.
Opposition Criticizes Budget Allocation
Opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized the budget, calling it “the greatest robbery in the history of the country.” Lapid accused the government of “stealing the money and the future of the Israeli middle class, the productive public, who works, pays taxes, and enlists in the army.”
Public Concerns Over Middle-Class Impact
Many critics argue that the budget disproportionately benefits specific sectors while overlooking the middle class, creating concerns over rising inequality.
