Despite ongoing war expenses pushing annual spending up by 26.3 percent, Israel's deficit has improved to 7.9% of GDP in October, with state revenue climbing to NIS 398.6 billion.
The State Comptroller stressed the need to examine how to collect taxes from the cryptocurrency market before the government raises taxes for the public.
At the government meeting on the budget last week, Regev and Smotrich fought over the decision to raise public transport fares, but in closed negotiation rooms, they reached an understanding
The national budget for 2025 will be around NIS 607.4 billion. The government has also approved budget adjustments totaling about NIS 37 billion.
These comments follow the return of the Knesset for winter session and reports regarding budget cuts for certain ministries.
While NIS 19 billion has been approved for rehabilitation, 5 billion of these remain frozen, waiting for the delineation of the area included in the rehabilitation.
The Finance Ministry laid out a number of factors that could impact the growth projection, causing it to rise or fall.
The downgrade dropped Israel by two notches, from A2 to Baa1—the country's lowest score ever—and maintained a negative outlook for its rating.
Ultra-Orthodox parties Shas, UTJ threaten: Without legislation to exempt most eligible haredi men from military service, we will not support budget.
Members of the opposition have argued that the addition in government spending was unnecessary since the government could procure the necessary funds in other ways.
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