Finance Committee approved the budget laws for 2nd and 3rd reading in the Knesset

On Thursday night, the Finance Committee approved the budget laws for the years 2022-2021 for a second and third reading in the Knesset. Last minute: An additional NIS 91 million was agreed for the opposition in the coalition agreements. After approving the numerical part of the budget last night, the committee also approved the verbal part tonight, thus concluding the budget discussions and the Arrangements Law ahead of next week's Knesset votes. Today, discussions on the Arrangements Law are expected to continue in the various committees in the Knesset, prior to its approval there as well.
After much debate, members of the opposition and the coalition reached agreements regarding the allocation of coalition funds for various purposes at the request of the opposition. Following this, the opposition drew several thousand reservations and claimed a new issue, and the vote took place.
Ministry of Finance officials presented the various agreements reached with the opposition, with the funds being transferred as part of budget transfers, after undergoing a legal examination in accordance with the Attorney General’s procedure. A total of NIS 50 million was allocated as part of the summary in 2021 and NIS 20 million in 2022. Alongside these, it was agreed to reduce social security contributions for Israeli students at recognized institutions abroad, by providing a temporary two-year directive.
Among the additions approved for the opposition: NIS 5 million for renovations of hospitals in the periphery; NIS 13 million for the director of settlement education; NIS 30 million for Torah education; NIS 8.5 million for the activities of a Jewish identity manager.
It was determined that the state budget for 2021, including corona expenses and debt payments, is about NIS 609.1 billion.
The state budget for 2022, including the corona expenses and payment of debts, as part of the approved portion, will amount to NIS 572.9 billion - after this amount increased by NIS 10 billion, following the addition of NIS 10 billion to the reserve item in the state budget for 2022 to deal with the corona crisis. Background of a larger-than-expected expenditure and the fourth wave.
Even before the last additions in favor of the opposition, additions to the coalition funds were approved within the budget frameworks: for 2021 additions in the amount of NIS 326 million, and for 2022 additions in the amount of NIS 400 million.
Next Thursday is set for the day the budget is approved and the 40 reforms included in the biggest budget law ever. All hours of the day and possibly even the night have already been allocated for discussions. A senior Treasury official said a "marathon discussion" was expected. Meanwhile, many reservations are expected from the opposition and it is still unclear whether the coalition will indeed be able to obtain a majority to approve the budget.
Behind the scenes, there are contacts with Knesset members from the joint list, in case it turns out that there is no majority in the budget, they may be absent from the vote at the last minute. The Minister of Finance, Avigdor Lieberman, claimed this week that he has no doubt that a majority will be found for the approval of the budget and the Arrangements Law.
During the days of approving state budgets in the Knesset over the years, changes were always made at the last minute and budgets were added for various issues to the demands of Knesset members, hours before the vote.
The committee's chairman, MK Alex Kushnir, said after tonight's vote: "We went through a very, very significant process here, first of all for the state, because the last budget received here was in March 2018. This budget has a lot in line, along with a arrangements law with a lot of reforms. "I want to say thank you to both the coalition members and the members of the opposition. No one here had any experience in transferring a budget, and we did it on time and we did it well."

Photo: Danny Shem Tov, Spokeswoman for the Knesset