Amid opposition, Smotrich says he plans to introduce budget update in Knesset tomorrow

Carrie Keller-Lynn is a former political and legal correspondent for The Times of Israel

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks at a Religious Zionism party faction meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, November 27, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks at a Religious Zionism party faction meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, November 27, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich tells the Knesset plenum that he plans to bring his wartime budget update for the first of its three Knesset votes on Wednesday.

“Our goal is to put it on the Knesset table tomorrow in order to vote on it on Wednesday,” Smotrich says, adding that the plan is subject to change.

Today, the Knesset is slated to vote on a bill that will decrease the deficit and limit expenses, as part of the budget update process.

Shouts erupt across the plenum, as opposition lawmakers heckle the finance minister, who accused them of engaging in “populism” against his funding decisions.

The cabinet approved the NIS 30 billion change to the last six weeks of 2023’s budget, redirecting funds toward fighting the ongoing war against Hamas and supporting the home front.

Finalizing the wartime budget update is also expected to release hundreds of millions of shekels of frozen coalition funds, held up until Israel finishes redirecting 2023 funds toward the war effort.

Most Popular