Israel Knesset passes Budget, giving Benjamin Netanyahu govt more time

Israels parliament on Monday passed its annual budget in a marathon overnight session ensuring that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government can complete its term until the fallIsrael needed to pass a budget before April 1 in order to avoid triggering early elections Netanyahu still reserves the right to call early elections before then if he wants reported IANSIsraels opposition slammed the budget for increasing funding to Israels ultraOrthodox communities at a time when the country is facing soaring costs over its war in Iran and is still reeling from a twoyear war in GazaOpposition leader Yair Lapid called it the greatest theft in the states historyThe government of gluttony and evasion carried out a nocturnal heist former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett who is expected to challenge Netanyahu in upcoming elections wrote on XIsrael Budget row deepens over funds for ultraOrthodox schoolsAccording to IANS opposition parties were especially furious over a lastminute amendment providing an additional USD 250 million to ultraOrthodox schools Anger has increased at the ultraOrthodox community for its refusal to allow its young men to serve in the military while it is stretched to its breaking point and is in desperate need of additional soldiers Military service is mandatory for most JewsFarright Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich praised the budget for taking care of all Israeli citizens without exceptionNetanyahus government is in the final months of its fouryear term and is required to hold elections by the end of October Israeli governments rarely last their full terms though the budgets passage means Netanyahu whose popularity has dropped since Hamas October 7 2023 attack is now likely to complete his termThe budget passed 6255 Sirens warning of missiles launched from Iran toward Jerusalem interrupted the discussions three times according to the parliaments spokesperson The session took place in the buildings auditorium rather than the plenum because it is located closer to a bomb shelter reported IANSThe USD 270 billion budget Israels largest ever included a 20 per cent increase for the Ministry of Defense due to the ongoing war against Iran The ministrys budget has swollen to USD 45 billion forcing cuts in other government ministriesWar support high but Netanyahu faces political pressureAs per IASNS recent opinion polls in Israel indicate that while Israelis overwhelmingly support the war Netanyahu and his political coalition dont appear to be benefitingIran continues to fire missiles at Israel each day disrupting the lives of millions of anxious and exhausted voters Israels war with Hezbollah militants in Lebanon also is intensifying while the disruption of the flow of oil from the Persian Gulf has upended the global economyPushing off elections until the fall could allow Netanyahu to harness momentum from the Iran war once middleofthe night sirens are a more distant memory for IsraelisBut the election would also fall close to the anniversary of the October 7 attack the worst in Israels history reported IANSIsraels military recently extended its wartime guidelines for civilians which prevent large gatherings and encourage people to stay within a certain distance of bomb shelters for an additional weekThis means the wartime guidelines will include at least the first part of the weeklong Passover holiday which starts on Wednesday reported IANSInputs from AP