From the Liveblog of
Sunday, December 10, 2023
Economy Ministry reaches deal with treasury, paving way for Barkat to back 2023 budget update
The Economy and Industry Ministry announces that it has reached agreements with the treasury regarding the update to the national budget, appearing to pave the way toward Minister Nir Barkat supporting the bill to adjust the budget in the shadow of the war against Hamas.
Barkat, a member of the ruling Likud party, has thus far opposed the bill and boycotted the first of its three plenum readings due to cuts to his ministry’s budget. The legislation has also faced pushback over its inclusion of some non-war funds to fulfill previously agreed-upon demands by coalition parties.
But now, the Finance Ministry and the Economy Ministry agreed to add NIS 240 million ($65 million) to the latter’s budget by the end of the year. Barkat welcomes the development.
