The Finance Committee this morning approved the biennial state budget for 2017-2018, NIS 906.8 billion overall, NIS 446.8 billion for 2017 and NIS 460 billion for 2018 (net budget without permissions to commit).
When adding expenditure contingent on revenues, an additional budget that could be spent if further revenues are received from non-government entities, which totals NIS 44.9 billion in 2017 and NIS 42 billion in 2018, the overall gross budget is NIS 993.7 billion; NIS 491.7 billion in 2017 and NIS 502 billion in 2018.
In addition to the state budget, the committee also approved the maximum sum to which the government could commit in the next few years, even beyond the two budget years, the 'permission to commit' budget. In 2017, this budget will be NIS 126.44 billion and in 2018 - NIS 114.57 billion.
Finance Committee Chairman Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism) summarized state budget and Economic Arrangements Law discussions: "It was very difficult to pass this law, we had passed the budget law and the Economic Arrangement Law in an unprecedentedly short time. At the same time, we did not forego anything. We went over each law and made important changes for the public good. It was not easy, but we eventually approved this for the good of the economy and the state."
Despite leading opposition to the budget in the committee, MK Mickey Levy (Yesh Atid), congratulated chairman Gafni on the "the fair way in which discussions were managed." Coalition Chairman MK David Bitan (Likud) said, "Congratulations are due for chairman Gafni who had run Economic Arrangements Law and budget law discussions in a highly sensibly manner and had admirably withstood all pressures."
Finance Committee coalition coordinator MK Miki Zohar also thanked Gafni, "for the way in which he managed and promoted the Economic Arrangements Law and state budget approval." He has also congratulated Minister of Finance Moshe Kahlon and the ministry's staff who supported the committee since the beginning of discussions on the budget and the Economic Arrangements Law and until their approval in the past few days.
Ministry of Finance director-general Shai Babad, thanked Gafni and Finance Committee members for "the cooperation in promoting the budget and the Economic Arrangements Law, and the professional management of negotiations which eventually resulted for a better outcome for the economy and the state."
As "Globes" reported yesterday, Knesset members who pushed for budget approval received NIS 235 million coalition funds in 2017-2018.
Gafni received NIS 39.5 million in 2017-2018 for causes that include an independent education system mentorship project (NIS 8 million per year), supporting public institutions in the fields of nature and environment (NIS 4 million per year), "guidance, instruction, placement and advanced studies" for adolescents (NIS 6 million), Haredi sector road safety education program (NIS 4.5 million), informal education youth movements and Jewish culture activities (NIS 3 million per year for each item).
Coalition Chairman MK David Bitan received NIS 41.6 million in 2017 and NIS 5 million in 2018 for a series of projects including public institutions in the Negev and Galilee (NIS 11 million in 2015), unique projects in municipalities (NIS 3 million in 2017), student activities (NIS 4 million in 2018), Zionist education in the Former Soviet Union and Jewish communities overseas (NIS 3 million for each item 2017) and overseas activities of World Zionist Organization emissaries ('shaliachs').
House Committee Chairman MK Yoav Kisch received NIS 32 million for projects in villages in outlying areas and in Judea and Samaria, as well as education, Shoah commemoration and site preservation.
Internal Affairs Committee Chairman MK David Amsalem received NIS 20 million for development of beaches, NIS 10 million per year.
The Likud's Finance Committee members - Miki Zohar, Oren Hazan and Nava Boker received tens of millions of shekels. Zohar received NIS 20 million per year, Hazan and Boker had to settle for only NIS 10 million each.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on December 20, 2016
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