The Finance Ministry will present the government with a plan on Thursday aimed at stopping the increase in the government's budget deficit, which has recently grown to frightening proportions. According to ministry estimates, if the measures are implemented, the deficit will be 3.8 percent of gross domestic product, and without implementing these measures, the deficit is expected to reach four percent of GDP, and perhaps even higher. By comparison, the deficit target declared by the government stands at 2.9 percent of GDP.
Among the measures planned by the Treasury are canceling tax benefits for hybrid vehicles, cutting government ministries' budgets and taking money from the Mifal Hapayis national lottery and the Bituach Leumi National Insurance Institute.