Finance Ministry

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks during a press conference at the Ministry of Finance in Jerusalem on August 9, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Fiscal state deficit widens to 1.3%, exceeding government target

Figures show government spending has risen 9.4% since start of the year, while state income from taxes declined 4.3% year-on-year, led by sharp drop in real estate taxation

Illustrative: Construction of new residential buildings on Allenby Street in Tel Aviv, May 21, 2023. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

Apartment sales in July plummeted 27% from a year ago, new figures show

By ToI Staff

September 11, 2023, 11:24 pm

Apartment sales in July plummeted 27% from a year ago, new figures show

With just 6,912 units sold, Finance Ministry review determines total lowest for July since economic recession during 2002 intifada; first-time home purchases recover slightly

By ToI Staff

September 10, 2023, 5:44 pm

Fiscal state deficit widens to 1.3%, exceeding government target

Figures show government spending has risen 9.4% since start of the year, while state income from taxes declined 4.3% year-on-year, led by sharp drop in real estate taxation

By Sharon Wrobel

Shmuel Abramson to be appointed chief economist at the Finance Ministry, Sept 10, 2023. (Courtesy)

September 10, 2023, 4:03 pm

Shmuel Abramzon to be appointed new chief economist at the Treasury

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich selects civil service veteran, subject to government approval

By Sharon Wrobel

Illustrative: View of the Phoenix Investment House in Tel Aviv on June 30, 2023. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)

September 6, 2023, 11:43 pm

Treasury: Foreign investments in Israel plunged 60% in 1st quarter this year

Finance Ministry says Israel drew $2.6 billion in foreign funds, while noting 80% drop in mergers and acquisitions amid tech layoffs and with judicial overhaul spooking investors

By Sharon Wrobel

Medical residents demonstrate for better work conditions in Habima square in Tel Aviv, on August 30, 2022. (Avshalom Sassoni/ Flash90/ File)

September 3, 2023, 11:55 pm

Shorter medical resident shifts go into effect in hospitals in country’s peripheries

Critics say agreement between Finance Ministry and Israeli Medical Center Association on trainees’ salary and hours should not be implemented without sufficient manpower in place

By Renee Ghert-Zand

September 3, 2023, 2:58 pm

Shai Aharonovitz to be appointed head of Israel Tax Authority

Finance minister selects 22-year veteran as new director, subject to government approval next week

By Sharon Wrobel

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)

August 31, 2023, 9:10 am

No breakthrough as high school teachers still threaten strike, day before school year

Education Minister Kisch says he’s sitting down with Secondary School Teachers Association head Ran Erez for ‘decisive’ meeting to address gaps in collective salary negotiations

By ToI Staff

Jewish immigrants fleeing from war zones in the Ukraine arrive at the immigration and absorption office, at Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv, on March 15, 2022. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

August 24, 2023, 11:45 pm

Health benefits for 14,000 Ukrainian refugees frozen due to lack of funds, gov’t says

High Court plans debate on matter next week, doesn’t order state to resume halted services; Finance Ministry said refusing to transfer required funds to ministries

By ToI Staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) speaks with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich during a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on June 18, 2023. (Amit Shabi/Pool)

August 9, 2023, 11:10 pm

As Smotrich defends freeze, PM vows to transfer funds to Arab towns ‘with oversight’

Netanyahu says the funding must be monitored so that it ‘reaches its appropriate destination,’ as far-right minister claims money could fuel organized crime, ‘encourage terror’

By ToI Staff

Incoming Israel Securities Authority chairman Yosef (Seffy) Zinger. (Courtesy)

August 6, 2023, 6:03 pm

Seffy Zinger approved as new head of Israel Securities Authority

Zinger, a partner at law firm Herzog Fox & Neeman, confirmed as chairman of regulatory authority

By Sharon Wrobel

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich at a press conference on the planned construction of a new railway line from the northern city of Kiryat Shmona to the city of Eilat, in Jerusalem, July 30, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

July 31, 2023, 4:54 pm

Finance Ministry experts said to warn trans-Israel high-speed train a waste of money

Number-crunchers reportedly caution massive price tag of plan unveiled by Netanyahu isn’t justified for expected low passenger numbers on costly sections

By ToI Staff

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich leads a faction meeting of his Religious Zionism party at the Knesset, in Jerusalem, July 17, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

July 18, 2023, 9:28 pm

Smotrich said to want millions from Arab economic plan to cover yeshiva stipends

Finance minister reportedly orders drawing funds from economic development plan to cover stipends demanded by ultra-Orthodox parties; local authorities chief asks PM to block move

By ToI Staff

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attends a press conference at the Finance Ministry in Jerusalem on May 14, 2023. (Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90)

July 9, 2023, 6:13 pm

Israel’s fiscal deficit widens to 0.9% in June; property tax income at 2-year-low

Figures show government revenue from real estate taxation slumped 56%; government expenditure jumps 6.9%

By Sharon Wrobel

Intel Corp.'s R&D center in Haifa. (Courtesy)

June 18, 2023, 4:36 pm

Intel to invest ‘unprecedented’ $25 billion in chip manufacturing plant in Israel

Netanyahu hails investment as largest ever by a global private company in the country; Kiryat Gat plant to hire thousands

By Sharon Wrobel

June 12, 2023, 5:51 pm

Seffy Zinger to be appointed head of Israel securities watchdog

Finance minister selects Zinger, a partner at law firm Herzog Fox & Neeman, as chairman of the Israel Securities Authority, subject to approval

By Sharon Wrobel