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'Ben-Gvir is destroying the government' - budget passes despite protest vote

The article from i24NEWS discusses the passage of Israel's 2023-2024 budget despite significant opposition and internal political strife. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, leader of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, has been accused by coalition members of undermining the government by demanding additional funds for his ministry, which led to a protest vote where his party abstained. Despite this, the budget was approved with a vote of 64-56 in the Knesset. The budget includes increased allocations for coalition parties, with Ben-Gvir's ministry receiving an additional 9 billion shekels ($2.4 billion). Critics argue that these funds are being misused, with some likening the situation to a "hostile takeover" of the budget process. The opposition, including Yair Lapid, has criticized the budget for prioritizing political deals over national interests, potentially leading to economic instability.

Read the Full i24NEWS Article at:
[ https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/politics/artc-ben-gvir-is-destroying-the-government-budget-passes-despite-protest-vote ]