About 150 people demonstrated in front of the Knesset on Monday morning to protest the state budget, which was approved in its first reading a few days ago. The demonstrators, family members of those killed on October <>, called on the government and its leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, to take responsibility for the events and end their roles. The signs held by the demonstrators read, among other things: "Netanyahu's government, you are to blame," "You failed, you abandoned us," "Impeachment Now," and "A government of abandoned people."
Demonstrators in front of the Knesset building, this morning, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Maoz Yinon, who lost his parents in the Hamas attack on October 7, said at the demonstration: "With the current budget, the government continues to prove that its priorities are purely political, not for the benefit of the citizens of Israel, first and foremost the families of the abductees, the families of the murdered, displaced persons from the surrounding communities and evacuees from the northern border. At a time when small businesses are collapsing and people have no homes to return to, coalition budgets are flowing as if there is no tomorrow."
Demonstrators in front of the Knesset, many of the families of the abducted and murdered, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
The budget, which was approved in its first reading in the Knesset last week, amends the 2023 budget in light of the war. Among the demands for the updated budget: transferring NIS 30 billion for the war, NIS 17 billion for the military system, and NIS 13.5 billion for the civilian campaign, which includes compensation for businesses, evacuation of residents, rehabilitation of kibbutzim, payment to hotels, and more.
At the same time, some of the funds discussed in the budget discussions are coalition funds that are in dispute, including among Economy Minister Nir Barkat, who abstained in the vote on the budget in the Knesset plenum, and among some ministers of the state camp. Among the issues in dispute: budgeting for ultra-Orthodox education and strengthening in Judea and Samaria, on which no legal opinions have yet been submitted to the Finance Committee.
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