Israeli Government Budget

Protesters block Knesset entrance following approval of 2026 state budget

"While the Israeli public is sitting in shelters, the government of massacre approves a pig-sized budget," the protesters stated.

PROTESTERS GATHER outside the Knesset against the approved 2026 budget.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R), Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

Netanyahu, Smotrich to 'set aside' haredi draft law, approve billions in defense funding for war

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his cabinet seen at the Knesset plenum, June 11, 2025

Outcome of state budget vote uncertain amid coalition crisis over haredi draft

A PLENUM session at the Knesset.

2026 budget reading puts government at risk, after months of ideological sparring - analysis


NIS 727 billion budget expansion passes in Knesset as Israel-Hamas War continues

The Knesset approved a second 2024 budget, driven by the Israel-Hamas war, with 57 votes for and 51 against.

Inside the Knesset building.

Smotrich advances extra-budgetary war funds despite Finance min professional warning

Finance Minister Smotrich seeks approval for a NIS 3 billion fund to cover war expenses, sparking internal tension over Israel's budget management.

 Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks at the the The 10th Katif Conference for National Responsibility. August 5, 2024.

Government announces extension of evacuations from North, South

The evacuation extensions will be financed by a sweeping 1% budget cut.

 Kiryat Shmona evacuees

Israel's 2025 budget: Smotrich announces changes to how budget built, work to start this week

Per the minister's instructions, presentations on the budget will be held over two focused days instead of over the course of months.

 Bezalel Smotrich

Netanyahu, Smotrich blame each other for price hikes

"It is inconceivable that the concern for the PA and terror funds that it pays to families of terrorists will be more important than the citizens of Israel," Smotrich wrote.

 Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as lawmakers gather at the Knesset plenum to vote on a bill that would limit some Supreme Court power, in Jerusalem July 24, 2023.

'Dermer promised the Saudis a Palestinian state': Liberman hits back at government

Liberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, criticized the government's budget plan and raised concerns that cabinet member Dermer made commitments to the Saudis about a Palestinian state.

 MK Avigdor Liberman speaks during a plenum session at the assembly hall of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, March 6, 2024.

Israel's Knesset passes national budget as Netanyahu reaches last-minute deal

In an unexpected development, Agriculture Minister Dichter threatened to not support the budget over cuts to agricultural research, leading to an announced delay.

 Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Knesset plenum on March 13, 2024

Israel's Knesset begins marathon debate on new 2024 budget

Although the 2024 budget is highly likely to be passed into law by Wednesday, many controversial factors remain on the agenda, namely funding for the haredi education system.

 Head of the Finance committee MK Moshe Gafni speaks during a discussion on the state budget at the assembly hall of the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, March 12, 2024.

Transportation Min. to pay hundreds of thousands to provide buses to ultra-Orthodox wedding

The report clarified that it is a large event, and the request would include dozens of busses, which is estimated to cost the state hundreds of thousands of shekels.

An ultra-Orthodox Jewish family takes part in the Tashlikh ritual, to symbolically cast away sins, ahead of Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, in Ashdod, Israel, October 3, 2022.

Unity government must include friends and rivals - editorial

According to the official Knesset website, a national unity government is one based on a broad coalition, the members of which also include representatives of rival parliamentary groups.

 CABINET MINISTERS in the ‘government of change’ take their seats in the Knesset plenum upon their inauguration, June 2021. ‘This year – in light of the rickety political reality we are living in – I would add wishes for political stability,’ says the writer.