Israeli government to vote on NIS 1.2bn in budget cuts

The government is expected on Sunday to approve NIS 1.2 billion in budget cuts across the board to pay for the evacuation of Amona, keep the Israel Broadcasting Authority on air until the end of April 2017 and add over NIS 1 billion to education in the ultra-Orthodox sector, the Israeli newspaper Ynetnews reported.

Ministers were informed of the impending vote only hours ahead of the weekly cabinet meeting and many were caught unaware by the hefty cuts to their ministries.

The 2017-2018 state budget and the Economic Arrangements Law are scheduled to go to a vote at the Knesset for a final approval later this week.