Opposition leader Yair Lapid slams the cabinet’s decision to unfreeze hundreds of millions of shekels in funding for ultra-Orthodox and West Bank settler priorities instead of diverting the money to fund the war.
“While you were sleeping the government passed a budget with colation funds, that left irrelevant ministries and indulged in small-minded, mean-spirited politics instead of shifting the money to the fighters, those evacuated, and businesses that are collapsing. There is no shame,” he tweets.
The cabinet late last night approved a NIS 30 billion change to prioritize wartime needs in the remaining portion of Israel’s 2023 state budget, over objections that the plan did not divert also continued to send money already approved by the Likud-led coalition as part of its political promises to partners.
The funds had been temporarily frozen following the outbreak of the war on October 7.
Six cabinet ministers, including five from Benny Gantz’s National Unity party and Economy Minister Nir Barkat from Likud, voted against the move.
The move still needs to be approved by the Knesset.
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From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
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