The Finance Committee of the Knesset today (Tuesday) approved the additional state budget for 2023 in preparation for a second and third reading, and the legislation will be raised tomorrow in the plenary to be approved by Thursday.
The updated state budget for 2023, including debt repayment, will be NIS 636.6 billion, and the spending limit will be NIS 510.6 billion, meaning an addition of approximately NIS 25.9 billion to the 2023 budget approved in May.
Regarding the debate on the budget defined as "coalition funds" and intended to finance security components for settlements in Judea and Samaria, it was confirmed that approximately 150 million will be transferred as part of the approval of the current budget, regarding the rest of the funds that will be transferred through the Ministry of the Interior and the Settlement Division - a separate government decision for the transfer of the funds will be approved.
Following the need to increase government spending due to the "Swords of Iron" war, the total spending for the needs of the war in 2023 is NIS 28.9 billion - NIS 17 billion of which is for defense spending and about NIS 12 billion for civil spending (about 8.9 billion) and others. The financing of the increase is based on a budget addition of approximately NIS 25.9 billion (90%) and a diversion from other budgets within the budget of approximately NIS 3 billion (10%).
The 17 billion designated for security needs as mentioned, are for the payment of reserve days, armaments and equipping. About 6.1 billion will be used for aid expenses for victims and evacuees - housing evacuees in hotels or housing grants, alternative education frameworks for evacuees, Tkuma administration, allowances for victims and encouraging employment. 1.8 billion NIS will be used to strengthen civilian security systems - the Israel Police, special security services, the Prison Service, fire brigades, emergency units, emergency equipment for local authorities, and shelters.
NIS 1.8 billion will be used for expenses to care for the economy - state guaranteed loans, incentives for employment, aid to agriculture, day care centers, compensation for cultural institutions, disposal of excess waste, a safety cushion for sailing and aviation. And about a billion NIS will be used for the health system - protecting hospitals, mental health and purchasing medicines.
