From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, August 19, 2025
Opposition leaders blast cabinet for cutting budget from key offices to fund Gaza aid
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSam Sokol is a former political correspondent at The Times of Israel. 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"
Opposition politicians denounce the government’s decision to approve a NIS 31 billion ($9 billion) increase to the 2025 state budget, including NIS 1.6 billion ($473 million) for humanitarian aid for Gaza.
“The government approved the transfer of NIS 1.6 billion to Gaza, despite the IDF’s warning that the vast majority of the ‘aid’ reaches Hamas,” tweets Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman. “The government is stealing from the citizens and paying taxes to Hamas.”
“The government’s decision to cut the health basket means both shame is dead, and sick people will die as well. Funding could come from closing 15 superfluous ministries and canceling coalition funds for corruption and draft dodgers,” declares Opposition Leader Yair Lapid. “Instead, the worst government in Israel’s history is cutting healthcare, education, and welfare. Disgraceful.”
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