Israel: Netanyahu and allies enact a new budget that includes generous payments for settlements and ultra-Orthodox communities

 


The coalition led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration on Wednesday approved a new two-year budget, paving the path for it to further its religious and pro-settlement agenda.

While Netanyahu's ultra-Orthodox and ultranationalist coalition, the most extreme ever in Israel, might be able to purchase some peace inside it, the budget was also anticipated to exacerbate tensions within the country.

Netanyahu has come under fire for allegedly boosting the amount of money he gives to his ultra-Orthodox friends for religious initiatives that have little positive impact on the economy and society at large.

After a long night of deliberation, the 2023 and 2024 budgets were ultimately approved by parliament by a vote of 64-56 just before dawn. It came after weeks of acrimonious discussions between Netanyahu and his coalition partners.

Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister, stated following the vote, "We have the instruments, we're getting to work.The new budget has drawn criticism for distributing around $4 billion in discretionary money, a large portion of which went to pro-settler and ultra-Orthodox parties.

The contentious stipends for ultra-Orthodox men to attend full-time religious seminaries rather of working or enlisting in the military, which is required for the majority of secular men, will also grow as a result.

Additionally, it includes extra funding for ultra-Orthodox institutions, which have come under fire for failing to teach children the English and arithmetic skills necessary for the contemporary job.

Tens of millions of dollars are also included in the budget for ardently pro-settler parties to use their influence over ministries to further personal causes.

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