From the Liveblog of
Monday, October 28, 2024
Netanyahu, Smotrich tell ministers state budget ‘must be passed on time’
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
As passage of the 2025 state budget is in danger of being delayed over an intra-coalition fight around Haredi military enlistment, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich both insist in today’s cabinet meeting that “the state budget must be passed on time, in accordance with the principles of the budget that have already been agreed upon,” according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
Netanyahu asks ministers to sit for negotiations with the Finance Ministry ahead of Thursday’s budget debate.
According to the PMO, Smotrich tells ministers that “fiscal responsibility” is needed “to allow the economy to break back onto a path of growth at the end of the war.”
Netanyahu and Smotrich tell the cabinet they are expected to understand what is at stake and what is demanded of them at this time, says Netanyahu’s office.
The premier and finance minister have said they intend to pass the budget by the end of the year. Failure to pass the budget by March 31 will result in the dissolution of the government and early elections.
The Times of Israel Community.