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2026 state budget

Illustrative: An Israeli Air Force F-16 fighter jet is seen taking off for a major wave of strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon, April 8, 2026. (Israel Defense Forces)
July 2, 2026, 10:11 pm
Finance and Defense ministries reach deal to give IDF an extra NIS 15 billion
Deal mediated by National Security Council prevents potential tax hikes and spending cuts incurred by reopening of 2026 state budget, which already included record defense spending
By Sharon Wrobel
Defense Minister Israel Katz speaking during a ceremony returning a stone from the Western Wall that had been kept at HaKirya military base, to the Davidson Center in the Old City of Jerusalem, May 4, 2026. (Oren Ben Hakoon/Flash90)
May 27, 2026, 12:37 am
Katz said to reverse security funding cuts for Gaza border communities, after backlash
Reported decision comes after local leaders and security coordinators warned the cuts would severely undermine safety of frontline towns
By Stav Levaton and ToI Staff
Former prime minister Naftali Bennett delivers a broadcast speech denouncing parts of the 2026 budget and pledging to crack down on draft-dodging if elected, on March 30, 2026. (Screenshot, Naftali Bennett on X)
March 30, 2026, 11:11 pm
Bennett vows to investigate ‘sabotage of Haredi enlistment’ if elected PM
Ex-premier lambasts coalition for boosting funds to ultra-Orthodox institutions, says state budget ‘plunders’ the ‘serving and working public’ while army faces manpower shortage
By Sam Sokol and ToI Staff
Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara at a Constitution, Law and Justice Committee meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, September 30, 2025. (Oren Ben Hakoon/ Flash90)
March 30, 2026, 9:10 pm
AG halts transfer of budget funds for Haredi institutions after contentious vote
Gali Baharav-Miara says parliamentary ruse used to approve the funds was designed to circumvent High Court ruling barring financial benefits for Haredi draft dodgers
By Jeremy Sharon and Sam Sokol
Shas chairman Aryeh Deri attends a vote on the 2026 state budget in the Knesset, March 29, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
March 30, 2026, 7:14 pm
Opposition MKs voted to allocate NIS 800 million for Haredi schools. How did that happen?
Caught by a parliamentary ‘maneuver,’ lawmakers mistakenly supported a surprise reservation to the 2026 state budget massively boosting ultra-Orthodox education funds, sparking a harsh backlash
By Sam Sokol and Ariela Karmel
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (center) and other coalition ministers and MKs celebrate the approval of the state budget in the fortified auditorium in the Knesset in Jerusalem, during the war against Iran, early on March 30, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
March 30, 2026, 3:34 am
Knesset approves 2026 budget, Israel’s largest ever, sending billions to Haredi institutions
Coalition averts early elections under the wire as $271 billion wartime budget passes amid missile sirens, with opposition MKs mistakenly backing last-minute transfer to yeshivas
By Ariela Karmel and Sam Sokol
The Knesset's fortified auditorium during the war with Iran and Hezbollah, March 23, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
March 29, 2026, 5:11 pm
Knesset set to hold final 2 votes on passing 2026 state budget
Budget must pass ahead of March 31 deadline to avoid early elections; spending plan boosts defense funding amid war with Iran and allocates funds to ultra-Orthodox constituencies
By Ariela Karmel and Sam Sokol
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in the Knesset, February 7, 2024. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90/File)
March 18, 2026, 5:40 pm
‘Cynicism on steroids’: Experts pan budget cuts in wake of coalition fund increase
Cuts to healthcare, education and science could have been prevented by halting the allocation of billions in coalition funds to ultra-Orthodox schools, says Berl Katznelson Center
By Sam Sokol
Knesset Finance Committee chair MK Hanoch Milwidsky leads a Finance committee meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, March 15, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
March 16, 2026, 3:15 am
Knesset advances bill to grant R&D tax credit in bid to keep tech firms in Israel
Legislation, proposed by Finance Ministry to help offset OECD-brokered tax hike amid brain drain concerns, will let tech firms keep a larger share of their income
By Ariela Karmel and ToI Staff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich issue a joint statement from Jerusalem, March 10, 2026. (Screenshot/GPO)
March 11, 2026, 12:45 am
PM and Smotrich say Haredi draft exemption bill to be set aside to help fund Iran war
Opposition leaders gloat after finance minister says legislation ‘won’t be promoted for now’ as part of state budget, which must be approved by March 31 or the government will fall
By Sam Sokol and ToI Staff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits the National Health Command Center, March 9, 2026. (Kobi Gideon/GPO)
March 10, 2026, 11:44 pm
Cabinet okays $1.6 billion in coalition funds, including $715 million for ultra-Orthodox
Allocations approved for Haredi institutions, West Bank settlements and other coalition priorities; opposition politicians accuse government of funding draft evasion during wartime
By Sam Sokol
Wearing bulletproof vests, workers at Kibbutz Amir's dairy farm near the northern border continue to milk the cows during the ongoing war against Iran, March, 2026. (Via Israel Dairy Board)
March 10, 2026, 11:02 pm
Government pulls controversial dairy reform from upcoming budget
Farmers, kibbutz, moshav movements, welcome move, call for dialogue to reach deal that will strengthen economy, lower cost of living, bolster local production
By Ariela Karmel and Sue Surkes
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotirch and United Torah Judaism MK Moshe Gafni attend a Knesset budget debate, December 16, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg FLASH90)
March 9, 2026, 9:09 pm
Haredi parties likely to vote for 2026 state budget despite lack of exemption law
Shas and Degel HaTorah expected to vote in favor of budget while Agudat Yisrael will oppose it. Bill regulating Haredi conscription will not pass before the Knesset recess
By Sam Sokol
Ultra-Orthodox children in their classroom at a Heder in Jerusalem, August 25, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
February 19, 2026, 1:08 am
State budget set to increase spending on Haredi education by NIS 1 billion
Ultra-Orthodox school networks associated with Shas and UTJ parties to receive hundreds of millions of taxpayer shekels despite not properly teaching core curriculum
By Sam Sokol
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attends a Finance Committee meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem on February 17, 2026 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
February 17, 2026, 2:07 pm
Smotrich to Arab MKs: It’s not the government’s fault ‘you murder one another’
‘Educate your public to stop murdering,’ far-right minister says; opposition lawmakers accuse him of racism, rail at government for failing to curb violent crime
By Sam Sokol and Charlie Summers
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