13:04โขBudget Passes Despite Barricaded Parliament
โจThe newspapers report extensively on the final passage of Israel's 2025 state budget by the Knesset with 66 votes in favor and 52 against (13tv, Haaretz, INN, Kan, Mako, Makor Rishon, now14, times, Kipa, walla, Davar, Israel Hayom, Maariv, n12, Srugim, Ynet, i24NEWS). The budget totals 619 billion shekels (Makor Rishon, now14, Davar, Maariv). Significant protests occurred outside parliament, with demonstrators blocking entrances and six protesters arrested (13tv, times, Kipa, Maariv, n12, Ynet). While Finance Minister Smotrich called it the "victory budget" (INN, Israel Hayom), opposition members and media outlets criticized it as imposing severe austerity measures on working Israelis (Haaretz, Mako, walla).