Israeli legislators passed a contentious budget with allocations for ultra-Orthodox Jews. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secured support from ultra-Orthodox parties by providing additional funds for religious education, while rising prices and interest rates fueled public discontent.
Israeli lawmakers passed an annual budget Wednesday with controversial allocations for ultra-Orthodox Jews, in a concession to a religious party in the governing coalition that drew protests from the opposition.
Thousands of Israelis marched through Jerusalem on Tuesday to demonstrate against the government’s plans to hand more cash to the ultra-Orthodox minority, accusing the coalition of “looting” state funds.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the state would grant married ultra-Orthodox Jewish men engaged in religious study rather than work a total of 250 million shekels ($67.5 million).
The grant was part of an agreement with United Torah Judaism, one of the ultra-Orthodox parties in the coalition, to ensure its support for the budget.
The extra funds are in addition to other budget allocations traditionally made to the ultra-Orthodox through various government ministries.
The 2023-2024 budget was ultimately passed early Wednesday with the support of all 64 coalition lawmakers in the 120-seat parliament.
Netanyahu and his allies—who took office in December—stood and clapped as the outcome of the vote was announced.
The premier spent recent weeks cutting deals with his ultra-Orthodox and extreme-right coalition partners, to meet a May 29 deadline to pass the budget or face fresh elections.
The cash handouts to the ultra-Orthodox have sparked anger as Israelis of all backgrounds contend with soaring prices and increased interest rates.
In February, the Bank of Israel estimated the deficit would be close to one percent of gross domestic product in 2023 and 2024.
The protest on the eve of the budget vote came amid a wave of demonstrations against the Netanyahu administration, focusing mainly on its bid to overhaul the judicial system.
The demonstrations in Israel’s financial hub and elsewhere across the country have continued, despite the government pausing the judicial reform package following a general strike in March.
Miroslava Salazar with AFP
