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budget cuts

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
Students go back to school in Tel Aviv after a strike, May 6, 2025. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
August 31, 2025, 6:55 pm
Cabinet approves across-the-board budget cuts to fund security at schools
Finance Minister Smotrich boycotts vote on measure, which comes following pressure from ministers of education, national security
By Sam Sokol and ToI Staff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in the Knesset, February 7, 2024. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90/File)
August 19, 2025, 10:03 pm
Government votes to add billions to state budget, including $473 million in Gaza aid
As ministers approve NIS 31 billion boost to wartime spending, education minister accuses finance minister of preferring ‘the children of Gaza over the children of Israel’
By Sam Sokol
Organizers and farmers co-design a solar field in western Uganda as part of a Gigawatt Global project, Kyenjojo District, Uganda, April 13, 2024. (Jeje Canutum)
March 11, 2025, 3:46 pm
Jewish and Israeli aid groups are hit by Trump’s suspension of USAID, refugee program
After the US president orders America’s largest aid body gutted, repercussions are felt around the world as programs benefiting people from Africa to Gaza have their funding frozen
By Sue Surkes
Bank of Israel governor Amir Yaron speaks at a press conference in Jerusalem, April 8, 2024. (Sharon Wrobel/Times of Israel)
January 6, 2025, 8:19 pm
Central bank sees economy improving but warns of continued geopolitical uncertainty
Bank of Israel holds interest rates at 4.5%, citing rising inflation following January tax hikes, including VAT; governor warns lawmakers against making changes to the 2025 budget
By Sharon Wrobel
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, center, at the start of cabinet meeting meant to approve the 2025 state budget, October 31, 2024 (GPO)
October 31, 2024, 8:01 pm
2025 state budget to increase defense spending, cut social services and education
To finance the war, which is estimated to cost NIS 250 billion ($66.8 billion), the Finance Ministry is proposing deep spending cuts as well as tax increases
By Sharon Wrobel and Sam Sokol
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks during a press conference at the Finance Ministry in Jerusalem, September 3, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
October 15, 2024, 4:49 am
Treasury proposes to cut benefits, hike taxes for lowest earners to fund war
Arrangements Law also includes measures taxing advanced study fund and pension contributions; the ‘government is going to hit you in the savings,’ warns Liberman
By Sharon Wrobel and Sam Sokol
Illustrative. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leads a special cabinet meeting at the Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem on Jerusalem Day, June 5, 2024. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
July 7, 2024, 9:13 pm
Cabinet slashes health, welfare and education to fund aid to displaced residents
Wide-ranging cuts come only days after Knesset allocates hundreds of millions of shekels in ‘surplus’ coalition funds to government ministries deemed superfluous by treasury
By Sam Sokol
Illustrative: New immigrants from Ethiopia arrive at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, June 1, 2022. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)
June 25, 2024, 11:41 am
Absorption Ministry to slash rental assistance for new immigrants
Aid shrinks by nearly half to NIS 8,712 over two years, with additional monthly stipends for those moving to ‘national priority’ areas; Elkin: Ministry ‘pickpocketing’ new arrivals
By ToI Staff
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attends a Knesset Finance Committee meeting in Jerusalem, on June 10, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
June 21, 2024, 12:02 pm
Treasury said to urge Smotrich to make cuts, hike taxes to raise NIS 30-50 billion
In marathon meetings, officials tell finance minister measures must be taken to curb ballooning deficit spending amid war, send positive message to credit agencies
By ToI Staff
An aerial view of the Volcani Institute. (Yigal Elad, Wikipedia)
February 25, 2024, 10:02 pm
Agricultural research body says planned budget cuts will force it to halt activities
Volcani Institute fears having to renege on local, international research contracts, face lawsuits demanding return of funds, if Knesset approves amended 2024 budget
By Sue Surkes
Orit Strock, national missions and settlements minister, attends a Religious Zionism faction meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, January 8, 2024. (Yonatan Sindel/ Flash90)
January 22, 2024, 8:30 am
Far-right minister claims some fellow cabinet members can’t make ends meet
Settlements Minister Strock tells party insider that some are struggling to get by on NIS 58,000 ($15,000) monthly wage, need parental handouts; average Israeli salary is $3,300
By ToI Staff
Members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet during a meeting to approve the amended 2024 budget, January 15, 2024. (Haim Zach/GPO)
January 15, 2024, 7:26 pm
Cabinet approves 2024 budget, making cuts to offset massive wartime defense boost
One Likud and five National Unity ministers vote against wartime budget to protest across-the-board reductions and failure to curb extraneous ministries
By Sam Sokol
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, right, and Education Minister Yoav Kisch at a press conference at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, April 30, 2023. (Alex Kolomoisky/POOL)
January 14, 2024, 11:03 pm
Minister storms out of cabinet as Netanyahu attempts to push through wartime budget
‘I am not interested in hearing from either you or your people,’ Yoav Kisch tells Smotrich as PM calls on skeptical ministers to ‘share in the burden’ of sweeping budget cuts
By Sam Sokol
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks at a conference in Jerusalem, January 11, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
January 12, 2024, 7:48 pm
Local councils urge ministers to nix planned cross-ministry budget cuts: ‘Unimaginable’
In letter to Netanyahu and Smotrich, authorities warn proposal will impact their ability to provide crucial services amid Israel-Hamas war, including in education and welfare
By Sharon Wrobel and Michael Horovitz
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