Israel's government has approved a state budget through the year of 2024. The state budget for 2023 will be about 484 billion shekels and in 2024 about 513 billion shekels.
Prime Minister Netanyahu commented: "I would like to thank the ministers and everyone who helped in the effort, the legal teams and the ministerial teams, but above and beyond, the Finance Minister. I had that job; it is not an easy job. You stood up in order to prevent a breach, and this is important. We want to show that the tradition we have created here in the State of Israel, of a free economy with fiscal and monetary responsibility, and coordination between them, and independence for the Bank [of Israel], are valid for us always, especially at this time. I think that this budget does this and it also does it against the backdrop of the best macroeconomic data that I can remember in all my years on the job. The Israeli economy is strong and steadfast. With the across-the-board support of the ministers today, it is even stronger. Thank you everyone and Shabbat Shalom."
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said "Citizens of Israel, we formed a government together less than two months ago, and each of the partners in the government has large and broad work plans. Today we took a first and important step in the right direction. Today we in the government passed a two-year budget and an economic plan. This is a good step for the State of Israel, good for the Israeli economy and good for the citizens of Israel. In the proposed budget, we emphasized the great burden placed on the shoulders of the citizens of Israel and we have worked hard to fight the cost of living that makes it difficult for every citizen in Israel."
The budget was voted on in a Cabinet meeting held today. Tourism Minister Haim Katz boycotted the meeting in protest against the amount allotted to his ministry.
The Ministry of National Security received an additional 9 billion shekels. National Security Minister Ben-Gvir's office states that the addition will allow, within a few months to start establishing the National Guard, to recruit thousands of police officers, more than 1,200 prison guards and hundreds of firefighters and to raise the salaries of police officers in the coming year in the amount of 400 million shekels. In addition, 150 million NIS will be allocated to raise the wages of prison guards.
Ben-Gvir commented: "Mr. Prime Minister, I thank you, we did a great thing today. Thank you. This is great news for the police, for the people of Israel and with God's help we will be able to restore personal security to the people of Israel. This has been a great achievement for public security policy. This does not happen in a day - the budget will arrive in a good few months - but let's hope that at the end of them we will start a tremendous process that restores security and governance."
The Ministry of Heritage received an additional half a billion shekels, doubling its previous allotment. The Minister of Heritage, Rabbi Amichai Eliyahu, said: "At long last we reached a conclusion that reflects the great importance of the field of national heritage and the strengthening of Jewish and national identity in the eyes of the government. We have great tasks ahead of us in promoting heritage. I am convinced that the extensive activities of the ministry will connect and make national heritage accessible to everyone, so that everyone can find their place in the diverse mosaic of the people of Israel."
The total budget for the Ministry of Innovation was set at 535 billion shekels. Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Ofir Akunis said "The all-time record budget for this ministry is clear and immediate evidence of the importance the government sees in innovation, science and technology as a growth engine for the Israeli economy. We are facing huge challenges in the world and are also being challenged by factors within Israel. The record budget is not just a statement, it will reflect the clear policy: to return Israel to higher places in the global innovation index."
50 million shekel have been allotted for developing 5G cellular technology. Communications Minister Dr. Shlomo Karhi commented: "We obtained an addition of about 15% to the base budget and another 20% for projects of protecting children online, supporting creators in the periphery, and more. In addition, 60 million NIS have been alloted for a program to encourage diversity and competition in news and current affairs."
The Ministry of the Negev and Galilee received an allotment of two billion shekels. The Minister of the Negev, the Galilee and National Resilience, Yitzhak Wasserlauf said, "The agreement reached with the Ministry of Finance was after a persistent struggle, but we were able to receive a budget that was unprecedented, in order to provide an opportunity for tremendous momentum for economic growth for the well-being of the residents of the Negev and the Galilee. The budget will allow for increased assistance to the young and old populations, coping with security threats in the settlement and the cities involved and a special budget for the young settlements. We promised and now with God's help we will keep that promise and raise the flag as we promised before the elections in the Negev and Galilee. I thank the Chairman of Otzma Yehudit, the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir who stood firm in the face of attempts to implement this important budget and supported the allotments in the budget for the residents of the State of Israel in general and the residents of the Negev and the Galilee in particular."
The budget of the Ministry of Immigration and Absorption was increased by more than NIS 200 million. The budget will be directed mainly to encouraging immigration from the United States and France. Minister Ofir Sofer commented:"Without an additional budget, we would have reached a severe crisis in view of the number of immigrants in the last year, alongside the fact that there is an alarming decrease in the number of immigrants from France and the USA."
An addition of approximately NIS 1 billion to the Ministry of Economy and Industry was approved in the state budget, as part of which the "Barkat-Porter" program will operate for the first time to invest in projects in which Israel has a distinct comparative advantage, which is expected to bring billions into the Israeli economy. Minister Nir Barkat commented: "I thank Prime Minister Netanyahu and Finance Minister Smotrich for being able to bring an additional NIS 1 billion to the budget for the Ministry of Economy and Industry. Thanks to this we will be able to fight a war of attrition against the bureaucracy and the cost of living that have spread in our economy."