Another chapter in the saga of approving the state budget: Against the backdrop of the confrontation between the coalition members, headed by National Camp Chairman Benny Gantz, the Threshold Committee convened today to discuss and vote on an amendment that will allow an increase in the deficit due to war expenses. Following a threat by Likud MKs to vote against it, committee chairman Moshe Gafni closed the discussion without a vote.
Smotrich: "Admits guilt - we couldn't make room for bureaucracy" // Knesset Channel
When voting on the clauses began, Likud members Eli Dalal and Eliyahu Revivo threatened to vote against the bill that seeks to increase the deficit allowed by law to 3.7% of GDP. Eli Dalal claimed: "We asked for data on reducing the deficit. We haven't received them yet." Eli Revivo attacked: "If the Ministry of Finance does not show us where it is possible to cut without increasing the deficit so significantly, I will vote against it. I'm not anyone's pawn. I will not vote without receiving a full and thorough breakdown from the Ministry of Finance as to why the deficit is being increased, without trying to cut other budgetary sources. Finance does everything in the dark. I won't give it a hand." Those close to Revivo claim that most Likud members support his position. As a result, Finance Committee Chairman Moshe Gafni stopped the discussion and closed the meeting. The parties are now in his room, along with representatives of the Ministry of Finance.
"If we end up with the projected deficit in a war, it's not so bad." Smotrich, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Yesterday, the Knesset Finance Committee convened to continue debating the bill intended to enable the amendment of the 2023 budget – reducing the deficit and limiting budgetary expenditure. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said: "The war is an economic event that will have short-term effects. The OECD recently published a report on Israel. There is no denying that the war is an economic event and will have consequences. The Israeli economy knows how to deal with the challenge, the Israeli economy knows how to support all war efforts on the front and home front. If we end up with the projected deficit in a war, it's not so bad."
The Knesset members protested that the finance minister announced that he had come only to convey a message and that he did not intend to answer questions at this stage, Knesset members entered his words many times, as did representatives of business organizations, and some of them were removed from the discussion.
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