January 29, 2026
The 2026 state budget passed its first reading
תמונות: ויקיפדיה, עיבוד: gemini
The Knesset approved the 2026 state budget in its first reading.
It needs to be approved two more times to take effect.
The vote passed with a majority of 62 supporters against 55 opponents.
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The approval came after a long and difficult political debate. The main disagreement centers around the draft law. The ultra-Orthodox parties refuse to draft young Haredi men studying Torah into the army. They refuse to support the budget without the approval of a law to address this issue.
Nevertheless, some of the ultra-Orthodox parties agreed to support the budget in the first reading. Shas and Degel HaTorah voted in favor. Agudat Yisrael voted against.
The budget now moves to the Finance Committee. There, it will be prepared for the second and third readings.
In Israel, approving the budget is a condition for the government's survival. If the budget is not approved on time, the government dissolves, and new elections are held.