Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hails the passage of today’s key budget-related law while tearing into National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir for leading a failed revolt against it.
“Today is an important day and a great victory for the coalition,” Netanyahu says in a statement, asserting that the legislation passed by the thinnest of margins is critical for Israel’s economy and security. The prime minister left his hospital recovery room against doctors’ orders and hurried to the Knesset to cast what turned out to be the decisive vote in favor of the legislation, which passed by 59 votes to 58.
“Over the past two years, we have been running the country together and achieving tremendous accomplishments in various arenas, including against Iran. We have great opportunities ahead of us in cooperation with our American friends,” Netanyahu says, apparently referring to incoming US president Donald Trump.
He then turns his sights on Ben Gvir.
“There is no greater irresponsible folly than to shake up the coalition at this time or risk toppling a right-wing government,” Netanyahu says.
The premier says he has been working closely with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to “steer Israel’s” economy. “I support [Smotrich] and demand that all partners in the coalition pass this budget as one.
Ben Gvir has been in the midst of an aggressive public campaign against Smotrich, arguing that he is blocking necessary raises for underpaid police officers. The finance minister has argued that the police have already received an expanded budget and that further increasing those funds would be fiscally irresponsible.
Despite Ben Gvir’s claims to the contrary, which led him and members of his Otzma Yehudit coalition party to oppose the law, “the Israel Police received large increases in the last two years — and rightly so,” Netanyahu says in his statement. “The budget for the national security minister also increased significantly in the 2025 budget.”
Adds Netanyahu: “I expect all members of the coalition, including Minister Ben Gvir, to stop… jeopardizing the existence of a right-wing government at a crucial moment in Israel’s history. It is possible and necessary to bridge the gaps in the coalition without shaking it, and that is what we will do.”
For his part, Smotrich welcomes the law’s passage, while attacking Ben Gvir for voting against it.
“We passed a responsible and important law for the benefit of the Israeli economy and the war budget. Unfortunately, Minister Ben Gvir chose to harm the prime minister and drag him from his hospital bed and to jeopardize the existence of the government and the economy for political spin,” Smotrich declares in a statement. He thanks Netanyahu for his “support, leadership, determination and responsibility.”
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, meanwhile, accuses the government of putting on a “horror show” to usher in the new year. “The public will pay,” he tweets.