The budget discussions at the Ministry of Finance continued tonight (Wednesday) in preparation for the approval of the budget tomorrow by the government.
The Prime Minister's advisors suggest adding extra-budgetary boxes to meet the coalition demands of all the parties, which amount to approximately NIS 50 billion, while the approved budget framework represents an increase of NIS 20 billion compared to last year.
The meaning of adding extra-budgetary boxes, similar to what was done in Corona, is actually a breach of the budget framework.
This is a step that may lead to the concern of the rating companies.
Tomorrow at 11:00 the government will begin the state budget discussions for the year 2023-2024.
The budget will be about NIS 484 billion this year, and in 2024 it will pass the half trillion mark, for the first time in history, and will amount to about NIS 513 billion.
After the budget is approved by the government, on March 23 the bill will be tabled in the Knesset for a first reading, and on May 29 it will go up for a second and third reading.
The discussions on the budget in the government are expected to continue from tomorrow morning until Friday afternoon.
As in every budget meeting, the discussions are expected to be very charged - the ministers will try to get additions to their offices while threatening not to vote, remove some bills from the Settlements Law and more.
There are ministers who want more budget such as Itamar Ben Gabir, there are ministers who want to issue measures/reforms such as Haim Katz.
In the end, those who exert more pressure by extorting votes (mainly these will be party leaders) will be able to get more for their offices.
Netanyahu, who has already gained experience in approving the budget, at the beginning of the week asked the government ministers to refrain from threats of resignation.
"This week we are in discussions about the budget, these discussions are always complex and difficult. From many years of experience, we have to understand that these discussions are unfortunately always decided in the last moments. But there needs to be a realistic discussion and reach agreements with the Treasury."
Netanyahu added: "I will try to help where possible. What I am asking the ministers is to sit down with the finance people and reach agreements, and also to avoid the threat of resignation. There is a well-known resignation threat from Churchill who resigned and did not return. The budget is full of tensions, full of disappointments, full of expectations".
However, some ministers expressed their displeasure and sent a number of different threats.
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