Finance Ministry

Stolen Records Contain Insurance Records of Millions of Israelis

The insurance records of millions of Israelis were stolen out of the back of a motor scooter - but there's no need to worry, officials said.

Finance Ministry Warns Israel May Go Bankrupt

Finance Ministry economist warns Israel could face a crisis like Greece's by 2059, if haredim and Arabs don't go to work.

Treasury Unsure How PM will Fulfill Pledge to Erdan

Finance Minister's aides demand that Netanyahu clarify where funds he promised to Internal Security Ministry are coming from.

Israel Ordered to Pay Iran Over 1989 Legal Battle

Swiss court orders Israel to pay for 1968 oil transport contract Iran cancelled after Iranian Revolution. Israel: we're not paying anything.

PM Re-Named Finance Minister to Prevent 'Passover Emergency'

Binyamin Netanyahu is once again Finance Minister - thanks to none other than Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef.

Kahlon on Finance Ministry: No One Has Negotiated with Us

Kulanu leader pours cold water on reports that he has already been guaranteed the position of Finance Minister in the next government.

Herzog: Bibi's Offer to Kahlon Proves He's in a Panic

According to Labor leader Yitzhak Herzog, Netanyahu offering finance portfolio to Kulanu head Moshe Kahlon is sign of PM's desperation.

Netanyahu Promises Kahlon Finance Ministry

With elections mere days away, last ditch effort by Netanyahu to turn Kahlon his way by offering finance portfolio is rejected.

Kahlon Denies Rumors of Deal With Liberman, Lapid

Moshe Kahlon denies rumors of plans for a post-election negotiation bloc with Yesh Atid, Yisrael Beytenu, or any other party.

Kahlon Rules Out Coalition with 'Parties that Are Not Zionist'

Kulanu chairman rules out coalition with Joint Arab List, says he will not condition joining a coalition on him being Finance Minister.

Lapid: I Would Return to Finance Ministry

Lapid vows to return housing crisis laws to the agenda if he sits in the next government, says he could work with hareidi parties.

No Religious Council in Beit El - Who's to Blame?

Beit El residents threaten to file petition in High Court for Justice over oversight; ministers play blame game, point to Finance Ministry.

Slomiansky: Lapid Was 'A Nightmare to Work With'

For two years, MK Nissan Slomiansky worked 'under the thumb' of ex-Finance Minister Yair Lapid, calling it a 'nightmare'.

Fitch Downgrades Israel's Outlook, Finance Min. Not Concerned

Fitch downgrades the outlook for Israel's sovereign long-term foreign currency issuer default rating from Positive to Stable.

Report Highlights 'High Life' Spending by Ministries

A report issued over the weekend showed that government ministries spent hundreds of millions of shekels on outside services.

Compromise Reached in Postal Workers' Strike

Israelis to get their mail again after weeks of chaos, as Finance Ministry compromises on massive layoff plan.

Govt. to Sell Off Most Companies

The Social-Economic Cabinet on Sunday decided to sell off nearly all the government-controlled companies in Israel.

Ben Gurion Workers May Go on Strike Again

Workers at Ben Gurion Airport are gearing up for another strike, fearing they will be on the hook for a huge royalty payment.

IAF Makes 'Extreme' Decision To Cancel Training Flights

Finance Ministry reportedly 'refused' to keep IAF in the air for training; forces a move generals warn will cause serious harm.

Conflict Erupts Over Solutions to Housing Crisis

Where to invest - that is the question. Housing and Finance Ministries face off over the better solution to the housing problem.

Intel to Invest 5-6 Billion Dollars in Israeli Plant

Ministers welcome plan to upgrade Intel's Kiryat Gat plant, which involves a reciprocal investment in the Israeli economy.

Approved: One-Billion Shekel Aid Package for Holocaust Survivors

Finance Ministry plan to see thousands of survivors improve their quality of life, ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day.

Hospital Staff Strike Outside Finance Minister's Home

Hadassah Medical Center controversy continues, as protestors claim the bailout process is stalling.

Finance Ministry Seeking to Lower Cost of Living, Food Prices

Israeli government looking to cut the profits of companies producing food subsidized by the government, in bid to make daily life easier.

Breaking News

Foreign Ministry Strike Ends

Dramatic 10-day strike ends with agreement between Foreign Ministry employees, Finance Ministry.

Foreign Ministry Strike Close to an End

Agreement between employees' union, Finance Ministry very close after intense negotiations in Tel Aviv.

Foreign Ministry Strike Heats Up

Finance Ministry, Foreign Ministry square off with sharp words and pointed picketing, as officials warn of harm to Israeli diplomacy.

Finance Min: Hareidi Homebuyers Don't Need VAT Discount

Not extending a VAT discount for first time home buyers in hareidi communities is not discriminatory, the Treasury said.

Protests at Prime Minister's Office: 'Save Hadassah Hospital'

Demonstrators picket Prime Minister's Office, call on Health Minister to do something about Hadassah hospital crisis, impending collapse.

Strike at Hadassah Medical Center Driving Doctors to Quit

Doctors begin to leave Hadassah hospital, transfer elsewhere, as financial crisis remains unresolved.

Lapid Retroactively Cuts Yeshiva Funding

Lapid utilizes technicality to take back February funding and ensure Supreme Court ruling against hareidi yeshivas is carried out.

MKs Agree: ‘Draconian’ Yeshiva Regulation Must Stop

MKs from across the political spectrum call on Finance Minister Lapid to end ‘draconian’ approach to NGOs, yeshivas.

Ministry Cites Money-Laundering at Legal Money Changers

At least 35% of activity in legal money-changing outlets in Israel are involved in money-laundering, Finance Ministry believes.

Poll: 78% Don't Trust Lapid as Finance Minister

Over three quarters of Israelis do not trust Yair Lapid to lead Israel's economy to prosperity and success, a poll showed.

Government Approves 4% Cut

Cabinet votes to approve 4% budget cut. Lapid: This is necessary to avoid bankruptcy.

FM Workers ‘Wish PM Would Get Involved’ in Dispute

Foreign Ministry workers say they wish the prime minister would get involved in the current dispute that has affected embassies worldwide.

Finance Ministry Helps Israelis Find ‘Lost’ Pension Funds

New Finance Ministry plan helps citizens track down pension funds. An estimated 10 billion shekels unclaimed.

Lapid: We Knew This Would be Hard

Finance Minister says budget cuts are hard, inevitable.

Lapid Agrees to Raise Deficit to 4.65%

Finance Minister Yair Lapid agrees to increase the deficit target to 4.65% for 2013, after originally planning to increase it to 4.9%.

Lapid’s Deputy Slams Hareidi ‘Leeches,’ Apologizes

Deputy Finance Minister terms hareidi Jews ‘leeches,’ says they ‘can’t live off taxpayers.’

Airlines Agree to End Strike

Israeli airlines, Finance Ministry reach a deal; Israel will pay for airlines’ security costs.

Mitzna: Yair Lapid as Finance Minister is 'Irresponsible'

Appointing Yair Lapid as Finance Minister is like appointing Amir Peretz as Defense Minister, says MK Amram Mitzna.

Lapid: Budget Cuts 'Painful and Necessary'

Minister of Finance says Israel must "return to responsible behavior so that we don't turn into Greece or Spain."

Eilat Shuts Its Doors to Protest Sales Tax

The Red Sea resort of Eilat will block entrances to the city next week to protest a government plan to impose a new sales tax.

Proposed Budget: Raise the VAT, Cut Civil Servants' Pay

The Treasury plans to raise the VAT and cut the wages of civil servants in order to reduce Israel’s deficit.

Opposition Slams Lapid Over Planned Cuts

Lapid chooses to avoid special Knesset session but finds time to post on Facebook, angering opposition.

Lapid: It's Worse than I Thought

Israel’s new Finance Minister admits he will have to implement tough economic cuts in order to repair Israel’s economy.

Bennett, Lapid Deny Giving Netanyahu an Ultimatum

Bennett and Lapid deny media reports that they plan to demand the Foreign and Finance Ministries or stay away from the coalition.

Likud Official: Lapid was Offered Finance Ministry

Yair Lapid was offered the position of Finance Minister in the new government but has yet to respond to the offer, says Likud.

17-Day-Old Nurses' Strike Ends

Agreement between nurses and Finance Ministry will see the nurses' salaries being increased over 4.5 years.

Ministry: Economy to Grow 3.5% in 2013

The Finance Ministry on Sunday released an optimistic forecast for economic growth in Israel for 2013, with predicted growth at 3.5%

Talks Fail, Nurses Go On Strike

Israel's nurses will begin an open-ended strike on Monday morning, after last minute talks produced no results.

U.S. and Israel Sign Off on Loan Guarantees

U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and Israeli Finance Ministry Director mark the extension of the U.S.-Israel Loan Guarantee program.

Steinitz: Ministers Don't Need BMWs

Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz is seeking to cancel the results of a tender for new BMW cars to be provided for government ministers.

Fischer Loses Deficit Spending Showdown in Cabinet

The cabinet voted to raise Israel's deficit ceiling to 3% over the objections of Bank of Israel governor Stanley Fischer.

Fischer Blasts Netanyahu Deficit Spending Plan

Bank of Israel governor Stanley Fischer says the PM's plan to increase deficit spending is the exact opposite of what Israel should do

Commissioner: Demos were 'Well Planned Violence'

Police Commissioner Danino: "Freedom to demonstrate must not turn into chaos."

Israel's Proven Gas Revenues: NIS 20b

This year's state financial report includes an estimate of Israel's rights to oil and gas discovery revenues. Amount: NIS 20.3 billion.

National Labor Strike Set for Wednesday

The Histadrut Labor Federation has set a general strike on Wednesday after the National Labor Court lifted an injunction imposed last week.

NII Panel Agrees on Benefit Package for Disabled Israelis

A social services panel has reached an agreement on improving the meager monthly benefits for some 200,000 Israelis who have disabilities.