Budget

Netanyahu's coalition moves to fast-track controversial laws ahead of upcoming Knesset dissolution

The tensions come after the crisis in Netanyahu’s coalition with the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) parties over the controversial conscription law.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Defense Minister Israel Katz and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir attend a discussion at the plenum in the Knesset, Israel's parliament, in Jerusalem, July 23, 2025.
New Israeli Shekel banknotes are seen in this picture illustration.

Israel’s 'bloated, unstable' gov't harms public service, wastes millions each year, report finds

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar holds up a copy of The New York Times as he speaks during a United Nations Security Council meeting at the United Nations headquarters on in New York City on August 5, 2025.

Israel just quadrupled its PR budget to $730M, experts claim it won’t work

Ultra-Orthodox men block a road during a protest against the jailing of seminary students who failed to comply with the IDF draft, in Jerusalem, in February.

While IDF soldiers fight, Israel's government rewards draft dodgers - opinion


France's Macron reappoints former prime minister Lecornu as PM as political crisis deepens

In naming Lecornu, Macron risks the wrath of his political rivals, who have argued that the best way out of the political crisis was for Macron to either hold snap elections or resign.

French outgoing Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu delivers a statement in the courtyard at the Hotel Matignon in Paris after launching a series of talks with political parties' leaders as France faces a political crisis following the announcement of the resignation of the new government, France.

Knesset approves NIS 30 b. increase in defense budget for ‘war-related’ expenses

The bill passed its third reading with 55 in favor and 50 against, following a full day of speeches from the coalition and opposition members.

Knesset plenary session. September 29, 2025.

Strong on defense, weak on welfare: Israel neglects the social front - opinion

The social front has been neglected in Israel during the two years of war.

THE MASAH IM HALEV project: Pitchon Lev goes around different cities across the country and, together with hundreds of volunteers, distributes basics to families who receive support from the organization.

‘Shameful’: Smotrich faces uproar from bereaved families amid push for NIS 30b. defense budget rise

Bereaved families slammed Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for skipping a meeting on aid, as he pushed a NIS 30b defense budget increase.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attends a committee meeting on September 14, 2025.

Knesset to vote on NIS 30 billion increase in defense budget, making cuts to other ministries

Israel’s 2025 budget vote will boost defense by NIS 30b, with haredi MKs set to abstain, leaving the tied coalition hoping the measure will still pass.

A plenum session at the assembly hall of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, September 10, 2025.

Our money, their shares: A way to return funds to the public - opinion

Is the government’s role solely to stimulate growth and employment, or also to ensure that the public becomes a full partner in the profits of hi-tech success?

New Israeli Shekel bills are seen in front of an upwards-trending graph (illustration)

The state of the Israeli economy - opinion

One major difficulty when evaluating Israel’s current economic situation is the lack of concrete data about the government’s operational plans regarding the war in Gaza.

FINANCE MINISTER Bezalel Smotrich addresses a news conference at the Finance Ministry in Jerusalem earlier this month. That Smotrich is not an economist, and is quite ignorant of current economic theory and practice, is no secret, says the writer.

Your Investments: Don’t let summer heat burn your finances

Start planning and saving well in advance of the summer so that the sudden expenses don’t send you scrambling to try and find the money to pay for them.

 Mother and toddler sitting under the tree during summer vacation. (Illustrative).

The price of conflict: Israel's economy has barely survived over a year of war, experts say

The general consensus of the conference was that Israel is only able to survive and thrive thanks to its national resilience and spirit of mutual responsibility.

 Former Bank of Israel governor Karnit Flug.

Israel's forests burn while gov't continues to underfund Fire and Rescue Authority

Our forests are burning, yet the government is stoking the conflagration by cutting budgets.

 A forest fire is seen burning in Israel.