Israel's national budget passes, triggering protests as finance ministry leader resigns
Israeli Finance Ministry Director General Ilan Rom announced his resignation on March 30, hours after Israel's Knesset approved the 2025-2026 state budget following an overnight session.
The ILS 850bn ($275bn) budget passed by 62 votes to 55, marking the conclusion of weeks of political friction within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition.
The budget includes a record ILS 142bn ($45bn) defence allocation, reflecting an addition of over ILS 30bn ($9.53bn) due to the ongoing war. Central to securing passage was the implementation of a controversial conscription exemption law for ultra-Orthodox citizens, alongside ILS 5.5bn ($1.78bn) in coalition funds approved through budget amendments, a move criticised by the Bank of Israel.
Rom's departure removes a key figure in Israel's wartime economic management at a critical juncture. A former senior Mossad official, Rom led complex negotiations with the defence establishment, spearheaded anti-black money operations with the Tax Authority, and advanced a "geo-economic" vision including infrastructure for potential "Abraham 2.0" agreements.
His resignation suggests growing tensions between professional economic management and political imperatives, particularly as coalition fund allocations strain fiscal discipline during wartime.
"I was privileged to contribute to the country during this challenging period and to be a partner in the tremendous economic work," Rom stated in remarks published by Kan News. "I thank Minister Smotrich for his trust and the ministry's employees for their professionalism and extraordinary dedication to the country's prosperity."
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich acknowledged Rom's contribution, making the following announcement: "The Ministry of Finance has been blessed with a top-notch professional manager. During this complex period, you have contributed greatly to our ability to manage changing processes."
The budget's approval triggered immediate protests outside the Knesset, with protestors from the "Changing Direction" "While the Israeli public is sitting in shelters, the government of massacre approves a pig-sized budget," protesters from the "Changing Direction" group stated, according to The Jerusalem Post. "Instead of taking care of protecting the north, compensating businesses, workers, and residents of the country that are being bombed, they are pouring billions into draft evaders and settlements."
Israeli police arrested five protesters for violating public order and not obeying police instructions, subsequently dispersing the remaining demonstrators.
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