Israel’s Knesset Passes Record NIS 850.6 Billion 2026 Budget, Averts Early Elections

On March 30, Israel’s parliament approved the 2026 state budget in its final reading, meeting the legal deadline to prevent government collapse and avoid early elections. The NIS 850.6 billion ($271 billion) spending plan passed by a 62–55 vote. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich hailed it for tackling the cost of living, while Opposition Leader Yair Lapid branded it the greatest theft in state history. Key allocations include a record NIS 142 billion for defense, NIS 22 billion in income-dependent spending and NIS 82.2 billion for long-term commitments. After more than 14 hours of filibuster and breaks triggered by sirens warning of Iranian missiles, late amendments directed hundreds of millions of shekels to Haredi party priorities. Elections remain scheduled for October.

Use The App To Win ₦1m

Stories are shared by community members. This article does not represent the official view of NaijaWorld — the author is solely responsible for its content.