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Monday, November 24, 2025
Smotrich presents outline of 2026 state budget to Netanyahu, defends dairy reform
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"
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announces that he has presented the main points of the 2026 state budget to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who approved it for a vote in the cabinet on December 4.
In a statement, Smotrich defends his proposed reform to lower dairy prices, which he has said stems from an overregulated, overly concentrated dairy market.
“A central component of the series of steps we are bringing in this budget to lower the cost of living is the milk reform. In recent weeks, we have witnessed a false smear campaign that is trying to prevent this reform and perpetuate the monopolies and the huge price gaps we pay for basic dairy products,” Smotrich says.
As part of the reform, Smotrich plans to waive Israel’s high tariffs on milk imports to encourage competition, increase the supply, and lower the cost of one of the most popular staples bought by consumers.
The Times of Israel Community.