Ohana: Knesset budget to be cut by NIS 125m. following two years of intense war with Hamas

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana announces a NIS 125 million budget cut for 2025, with the funds directed to the treasury to support Israel’s economy amid ongoing challenges.

The Knesset’s 2025 budget will be reduced by NIS 125 million for the purpose of supporting the country’s economy, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana announced on Tuesday.

The cut will not affect the Knesset’s essential operations, the Knesset’s spokesperson’s office said. It added that the principles regarding Knesset budget independence and the separation of powers will also be preserved despite the cut.

The budget reduction will still need to be submitted for approval to the Joint Committee on the Knesset Budget for final implementation.

There had already been two previous reductions to the Knesset’s budget since 2023. Together, the three reductions, when finalized, will amount to NIS 326m.

Ohana said he had informed Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich about his budget reduction initiative, and the funds are expected to go to the treasury.

Ohana had also led the initiative for the two other budget cuts. On both occasions, it was stated that the cuts were made to allocate funds to support the war effort, beginning at the start of the Israel-Hamas war in 2023.

Previous cuts since Oct. 7

In November 2023, NIS 80m. was cut from the Knesset’s budget, and in January 2024, NIS 121m. was reduced.
Regarding the decision to cut NIS 125m. from the budget, Ohana said on Tuesday that “the Knesset is committed not only as a legislative body but also as an institution and organization to support the country’s economic efforts.”

“My policy is to cut public funds as much as possible and return them to the treasury so they can be used for the citizens and to rebuild the communities affected by the war,” he added.