Israeli parliament passes controversial 2025 war budget
The Israeli Parliament passed the budget for 2025 on Tuesday. If it hadn't done so by the end of March, it would have automatically triggered new elections, in which the ruling coalition could lose its majority. The opposition criticized the bill, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of securing support from his extreme coalition partners.
The budget resolution passed with a majority of 66 votes in the 120-member parliament, while 52 members opposed it.
The parliament considered thousands of amendments presented by the opposition throughout Monday night, leading up to Tuesday. All were rejected in a vote on Tuesday.
The proceedings were accompanied by demonstrations from Netanyahu's critics, who blocked coalition members' access to the building. Police arrested at least six people.
This is a war budget. A victory budget
"This is a war budget and, with God's help, it will also be a victory budget," said Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, assuring that it meets all the military and societal needs.
The government, assessed Yair Lapid, the leader of the largest opposition group, Yesh Atid, is "stealing the money and the future of the Israeli middle class, the productive public, who works, pays taxes, enlists in the army, whose children enlist in the army."
He accused the government of allocating funds at the expense of the middle class and reservists to those "who do not work and do not enlist in the army."
Record-breaking 110 billion shekels
The fragmented Netanyahu-led coalition is the most right-wing cabinet in Israeli history, consisting of religious and nationalist groups. The government previously approved the allocation of 5 billion shekels (approximately 1.3 billion USD) to meet coalition partners' needs. This money will largely fund yeshivas, religious schools where young men study without working during this time, and institutions for ultra-Orthodox Jews (Haredim), who do not wish to serve in the Israeli army.
The chairman of the opposition party Yisrael Beiteinu, Avigdor Lieberman, emphasized that the government did not reduce spending for coalition partners, although it simultaneously made other cuts while increasing VAT, social security contributions, and other levies.
The approved budget foresees spending 756 billion shekels (approximately 206 billion USD), a total more than one-fifth greater than in 2024. A record 110 billion shekels (approximately 30 billion USD) is allocated for defense.
Anti-government demonstrations
For almost a week, massive anti-government demonstrations have taken place throughout Israel. Protesters accuse the government of stepping away from democracy by taking control of independent institutions like the special services and the prosecution and politically exploiting the war in the Gaza Strip.
Protesters believe Netanyahu decided to return to war, disregarding the fate of the 24 remaining hostages held by Hamas. There are accusations that he made this decision to ensure a stable majority and the government's survival. The cease-fire with Hamas was opposed by the radical Jewish Power party, which left the shaky coalition after its conclusion but returned to the government after the resumption of fighting. The next parliamentary elections should be held in 2026.
Netanyahu published a video in the evening, emphasizing that the budget was passed by a significant majority, contrary to the hopes of Israel's enemies, such as Hamas and Iran, who counted on the cabinet's collapse.
