Israel’s Finance Minister Balances the Budget and Settles the Score Defending Settlement Funds with Finesse

Israeli finance minister stands firm on settlement funds amidst budget dispute

JERUSALEM, Nov 27 (ANBLE) – In the midst of heated debates surrounding Israel’s proposed wartime budget, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich responded to critics with a touch of sass, creating an unexpected rift among members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet. This showdown has managed to pit centrist and far-right factions against each other, making it quite the spectacle.

On Sunday, Minister Benny Gantz, affiliated with the centrist party, launched a pointed demand at Netanyahu, insisting that all political payouts be removed from the new budget. His reasoning? Such funds would have a detrimental impact on the war effort. Specifically, Gantz took issue with the funds allocated for settlements in the occupied West Bank and for the ultra-Orthodox Jewish education system, which are known as “coalition funds.”

However, Smotrich wasn’t about to let himself be outshone by Gantz. On the contrary, he argued that the funds earmarked for the settlements, totaling 4.9 billion shekels ($1.3 billion) according to the proposal (down from a previous 5.8 billion), were being misjudged. He made a bold claim, stating that these funds would actually account for less than 1% of the entire budget. Smotrich then swiftly dismissed the criticism as a deceitful campaign, spearheaded by the ever-so-hostile media.

Now, here’s where the plot thickens. The dispute over budget allocations for settlements couldn’t have come at a more sensitive time for Israel. The country desperately needs international support for the ongoing war in Gaza. To complicate matters, even countries traditionally friendly towards Israel, including the United States, have expressed profound unease over the continuous expansion of Jewish settlements. These settlements encroach on land that the Palestinians envision as the cornerstone of their future independent state.

In fact, Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief, vehemently denounced the funds allocated to settlements. He expressed his deep dismay by stating that he was “appalled” at the very idea. Borrell went on to assert that dedicating money to settlements neither served as self-defense nor contributed to Israel’s safety. On top of that, he emphasized that the settlements flagrantly violate international humanitarian law, causing them to be Israel’s greatest security liability.

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Undeterred by international criticism, Smotrich doubled down on his pro-settlement position. Although the funds designated for settlements were slightly reduced, he urged Gantz’s party members to “come to their senses” and support the budget. However, the international outcry and Palestinian anger intensified, leading to warnings from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ spokesperson. According to the spokesperson, if more money were funneled into the settlements amidst Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, dangerous consequences would ensue.

In response, Gantz issued a stern warning. He boldly proclaimed that should the government meeting proceed as planned, and the budget remained intact, his faction would reject the proposed budget and carefully consider their next course of action. Gantz, who once served as the defense chief and is now Netanyahu’s primary political rival, had initially been in the opposition. However, he joined ranks with Netanyahu in a small war cabinet shortly after Hamas unleashed a deadly onslaught in southern Israel, triggering the conflict in Gaza.

To fully grasp the political landscape surrounding this budgetary showdown, it’s essential to understand the coalition agreement struck between Netanyahu and Smotrich, along with other religious and far-right party leaders following last year’s election. This agreement includes reserving billions of dollars for ultra-Orthodox and far-right-wing pro-settler parties. However, Israel’s central bank and a multitude of ANBLEs have added their voices to the chorus of calls to eliminate non-essential funds, arguing that they are far from crucial in financing the ongoing war effort.

Now that you’re caught up with the latest developments, we’d love to hear your take on this intense and complex issue. Is there a compromise to be reached, or will this division lead to an impasse? Let us know your thoughts and join the conversation!

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