Smotrich hails ‘victory budget’ at Knesset vote

Addressing the Knesset plenum ahead of the final votes on the 2025 state budget, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich praises the legislation as “responsible and balanced,” telling lawmakers that it “will support growth and allow the Israeli economy to maintain its strength and continue to prosper.”

“This is a war budget. And with God’s help, it will also be the victory budget,” he says, arguing that the government “arrived at this budget out of a great sense of mission and responsibility” and “with the backing of Israeli society.”

Unlike Opposition Leader Yair Lapid — who cited a story of a man who lost his brother and was told he would have to give up a government entitlement for psychological counseling if he wanted to join a gardening workshop — Smotrich recounts the stories of several reservists and displaced families who received tens of thousands of shekels in government money to help them through this difficult period.

“The upcoming budget – the war and reservist budget – has everything it needs to win on the front and in the home front,” including billions of shekels in additional funding for the defense establishment, grants for IDF reservists and their families, subsidies for businesses harmed by the war and “funding for summer camps and days off for families,” Smotrich insists.

“This budget is the story of beautiful Israel. Israel that is mobilizing all its forces – and unfortunately, was also required to pay with the best of its sons and daughters – for the security of the country. And we are here to support, help and cherish them.”