Israel’s parliament passed the 2023-2024 state budget at dawn this Wednesday after agreeing to funds for ultra-Orthodox Jews.
The funds, which provide special funding of tens of millions of euros, are being criticized by opposition to Netanyahu’s government.
On Tuesday night, thousands of Israelis demonstrated in Jerusalem against the allocation of public funds to ultra-Orthodox Jews, accusing the governing coalition of “looting” the country.
Benjamin Netanyahu had already announced that the state would grant ultra-Orthodox men, married and religiously educated, a total package of 250 million shekels (62.5 million euros), in addition to the subsidies already received by the ultra-Orthodox community.
This is part of a last-minute deal with one of the ultra-Orthodox parties in the governing coalition.
The budget was approved by a majority of 64 right-wing deputies who support the government.
The Knesset, the lower house of the Israeli parliament, consists of a total of 120 members of parliament.
“We won the election, we approved the budget, we’re going to continue for another four years,” Netanyahu said on the official Facebook account, after several weeks of negotiating coalition partners’ budget demands.
Netanyahu’s executive, which brings together right-wing, ultra-nationalist and ultra-Orthodox parties, had until May 29 to approve the state budget.
Failure to approve public accounts would force the government to call new general elections in a context marked by high inflation, rising interest rates and currency devaluation in recent months.
Source: DN
