From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
In major victory for government, Knesset passes 2025 state budget
Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
The 2025 state budget passes its third and final reading necessary to become law. Lawmakers in the plenum vote 66-52 in favor of the controversial NIS 755 billion ($205 billion) budget.
The votes come ahead of a March 31 deadline that would have seen the government fall if not passed.
“The budget has everything we need to win on the front and on the home front. We all approached this budget with a great sense of mission and responsibility,” says Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
“We promoted measures that will support growth and allow the Israeli economy to maintain its strength and continue to prosper. This is a war budget and, God willing, it will also be the victory budget.”
However, the opposition slams the bill.
“All prices have increased. VAT has increased, National Insurance payments have increased, water, electricity and property taxes have increased – everything has increased…but they haven’t cut a single penny in coalition funds,” says Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman.
“This budget will be felt by all citizens of Israel all year long and you will ultimately pay the bill. Your detachment and arrogance will come back to you with interest,” says National Unity chairman Benny Gantz.
The Times of Israel Community.