Israeli parliament passes budget amid protest over-allocation to ultra-Orthodox communities

By Mucahit Aydemir

JERUSALEM (AA) - The Israeli parliament passed a budget for the fiscal year 2023-24 early Wednesday amid protests outside the Knesset building over the disproportionate allocation of funds to ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities.

The state budget was ratified with the support of 64 lawmakers in the 120-seat Knesset after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reached an agreement with far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties within the six-party coalition government.

The ratified budget for 2023 is 484 billion shekels (approximately $132 billion) and 514 billion shekels (about $140 billion) for 2024.

After the final vote that ratified the budget, Netanyahu announced that the controversial "judicial reform" plan, which sparked unprecedented mass demonstrations across Israel, would be back on the agenda.

He told Israeli Channel 14 that the bill, which has been criticized for "weakening the powers of the judiciary," will "definitely" be put back on the agenda.

In response to a question about ongoing talks with opposition parties, Israel's longest-serving prime minister said, "We are trying to reach an understanding, and I hope we will succeed. The coalition will be here for four years."

Meanwhile, opposition parties denounced the coalition government for allocating the “lion's share” to Haredim, a group within Orthodox Judaism distinguished by their strict adherence to Jewish laws and traditions in opposition to modern values and practices, which make up 13% of Israel's population.

Haredim are often criticized for being exempt from compulsory military service. Their representation in the Israeli labor force is also insignificant.

Yair Lapid, the former prime minister and leader of the Yesh Atid (There is a Future) party, described the ratified budget as the “most destructive budget” for Israel, stating on Twitter “While you were sleeping, (the coalition) passed the worst, most destructive budget in the history of the country.”

“It brings no fresh tidings, no attempt to fight the cost of living – just endless extortion. This budget is a violation of the contract with the citizens of Israel, and our children and children’s children will pay for it,” Lapid added.

Former Defense Minister and National Unity Party leader Benny Gantz also criticized the budget, saying Israel has fallen into the hands of an extremist coalition that has sacrificed the country's economy and society for its policies.

With the passage of the budget, additional funding will be provided to Yeshivas – traditional Jewish educational institutions – as well as their students and employees, as requested by the right-wing United Torah Judaism party.

The ratified budget also includes one billion shekels (approximately $270 million) for a food aid program requested by coalition partner Shas Party.

The budget also included an additional 250 million shekels (approximately $68 million) requested by the far-right Itamar Ben-Gvir for the Negev and Galilee regions, as well as the National Resilience Ministry.​​​​​​​