The state budget for 2026 was approved tonight (Sunday) by a majority of 62 Knesset members who supported the proposal, compared to 55 who opposed it.
This is a significant success for Netanyahu, as no government has been able to pass a budget in its fourth year in decades. This fact, especially in a time of war, is seen as proof of the coalition's strength and stability - and Netanyahu can now set the date of the elections on the date stipulated by law.
The budget passed includes the adjustments required following Operation Roaring Harry and brings total government spending to a record amount of approximately 850.59 billion shekels.
More than 30 billion shekels were added to the Ministry of Defense budget as part of the budget update and due to Operation "Harry's Roar," bringing it to over 142 billion shekels.
The Ministry of Education budget will be approximately 97 billion shekels, the National Insurance budget approximately 64 billion shekels, and the Ministry of Health budget approximately 63 billion shekels.
The coalition managed to maintain its parliamentary majority throughout all rounds of voting despite the thousands of reservations submitted by the opposition,
The explanatory notes to the law state: "The state budget reflects the government's planned priorities, and refers to the needs it sees before its eyes at the time the budget is formulated. The budget is formulated with the knowledge that the state's needs change, and with the understanding that there is no intention to paralyze the government's ability to continue making decisions and determining policy throughout the year - even if these affect the budget.".
MK Meir Porush abstained from the final votes on the state budget in second and third readings - after he inquired about the position of the members of the Council of Torah Scholars of Agudath Israel.
MK Porush voted against the reservations of the left-wing parties to harm budget items that support issues of education, religion, society, and the like.
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