Knesset Finance Committee

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with coalition head and Likud parliament member David Amsalem (R) and Minister of Communication Ayoub Kara at a Likud party faction meeting at the Knesset on May 7, 2018. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

December 16, 2018, 10:46 pm

PM, coalition, fare poorly on support for transparency, study suggests

Independent media site reviews lawmakers’ votes on transparency bills, readiness to go public on personal wealth; study leader: ‘No government likes exposure, supervision’

By Sue Surkes

Chairman Moshe Gafni (c) leads the Finance Committee meeting on November 13, 2017. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

January 15, 2018, 4:29 pm

Lawmakers vote to give PM, government ministers a hefty raise

Knesset Finance Committee links ministerial salaries to the average wage to put them in line with what other MKs are earning

By TOI staff

View of the Bitcoin Change center on Dizengoff Street in Tel Aviv, showcasing a museum describing the history of the cryptocurrency as well as hosting a Bitcoin ATM and a meeting place for cryptocurrency community meetups. November 05, 2017. (Miriam Alster/FLASH90)

January 8, 2018, 3:11 pm

Knesset begins grappling with cryptocurrencies

Wary regulators warn of dangers and limitations, but lawmakers see opportunities and ‘great economic potential’ of digital currencies

By Marissa Newman

Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara Netanyahu boarding a plane to Uganda at Ben-Gurion International Airport on July 4, 2016. Raphael Ahren/Times of Israel)

December 21, 2017, 9:35 am

Prime minister’s private jet flying over-budget

Report says project that has already cost NIS 360 million needs new infusion to prepare aircraft systems for service

By TOI staff

The Knesset Finance Committee meets in the Knesset, Jerusalem, November 8, 2017. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

November 9, 2017, 10:23 pm

KKL freezes funding for Israel programs over tax law

As lawmakers advance legislation and dispute deepens, Keren Kayemet LeYisrael warns local authorities, other groups that NIS 2 billion is on hold until further notice

By Stuart Winer and TOI staff

View of the plenum hall in the Knesset on February 06, 2017. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

February 21, 2017, 11:41 am

Knesset passes ban on discrimination against settlers

Legislation prohibits vendors, suppliers from refusing to serve consumers based on where they live, unless policy is clearly stated in advance

By Stuart Winer and Raoul Wootliff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife enter an El Al jet bound for New York City on September 29, 2015. (Raphael Ahren, Times of Israel staff)

December 26, 2016, 4:50 pm

Finance Committee approves budget for PM’s private plane

$48 million project will equip passenger aircraft with defense, communications capabilities

By Stuart Winer and TOI staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon attend the Knesset vote on the 2017-18 state budget. on December 21, 2016. (Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

December 21, 2016, 11:56 pm

Knesset approves 2017-2018 budget in marathon session

Biennial fiscal plan passes with 63 votes in favor and 50 against, after furious row over slashed ministerial funds

By TOI staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanayhu (center) and Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon (left) during a Knesset session on December 5, 2016. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

December 21, 2016, 3:18 pm

Knesset set to give final approval to 2017-2018 budget

Amid controversy over third-apartment taxation, municipal strike over slashed funds, coalition slated to okay two-year financial plan, boosting government stability

By Marissa Newman

A fire burns in Haifa, Israel, Thursday, November 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

November 29, 2016, 11:41 am

Heralding state compensation, arson confirmed in several major fires

Haifa and Zichron Ya’akov among 9 locations that were hit by deliberate fires, qualifying residents for state restitution for losses

By Raoul Wootliff

The damage inside a burnt house in the northern Israeli town of Haifa following a wildfire, November 25, 2016. (AFP/ JACK GUEZ)

November 28, 2016, 9:32 pm

MKs call for state to cover all homes destroyed in fires, arson or not

Finance ministry to give immediate NIS 2,500 stipend to those who can’t return to their homes, but DG says ‘some will fall between the cracks’

By Raoul Wootliff

Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon presents the budget for 2016-2017 to the Knesset in Jerusalem, November 2, 2016. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

November 3, 2016, 8:43 am

Knesset passes first reading of 2017-2018 budget

Finance minister touts NIS 735 billion plan as part of a ‘campaign against the high cost of living’

By Stuart Winer

Jewish Home MK Bezalel Smotrich during a Knesset committee meeting, January 11, 2016. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

October 27, 2016, 10:11 pm

‘Illiterate’ Arabs grabbing Israeli university slots, MK claims

During stormy Knesset debate, Betzalel Smotrich demands other lawmakers ‘show me one Arab who passed’ college entrance exam

By TOI staff

Jewish Home parliament member Bezalel Smotrich addresses the Israeli parliament on November 16, 2015. Photo by Miriam Alsterl/Flash90

October 25, 2016, 7:28 pm

Right-wing MKs call to remove Amnesty’s tax exemption status

Bezalel Smotrich says rights organization is ‘radically against the State of Israel and its leaders,’ should not receive benefits

By TOI staff

Chairman of the Finance Committee, Moshe Gafni, leads a meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem on September 6, 2016. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

September 18, 2016, 10:31 pm

Amid row over Shabbat work, finance panel delays train funding

After weekend railway work suspended, committee headed by ultra-Orthodox MK stalls vote on NIS 600m for railways

By TOI staff