From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Ohana to cut Knesset’s budget by NIS 125 million, says vital operations won’t be impacted
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleAriela Karmel is a political correspondent at The Times of Israel. She previously reported for Calcalist and Haaretz. She holds an MA in Middle Eastern and African History from Tel Aviv University and a BA in Political Science from the University of British Columbia.
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana is seeking to cut the Knesset’s budget for the third time since taking office.
The Knesset Spokesperson’s office says that Ohana informed Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich of the NIS 125 million (approximately $38 million) cut, and will transfer the funds directly to the treasury.
The measure still needs to be approved by the Joint Committee for the Knesset Budget.
“My policy is to cut public spending wherever possible and return the funds to the treasury, so they may go back to the citizens and to the rehabilitation of communities affected by the war,” says Ohana.
This latest move brings total reductions initiated by Ohana to NIS 326 million ($100 million). The speaker previously made an NIS 80 million ($24.5 million) cut from the operational budget in November 2023 and an additional cut of NIS 121 million ($37 million) in January 2024 to support the country’s wartime needs.
According to the Knesset Spokesperson’s Office, the new cut will not affect the parliament’s essential operations, and its budgetary independence will remain intact.
The office does not immediately respond when asked what will be impacted by the cuts.
The Times of Israel Community.