Arabic version: إسرائيل توافق على ميزانية قياسية لتمويل المستوطنات ومشاريع اليمين المتطرف

Israeli lawmakers voted on Monday to pass the largest budget in the nation’s history, totaling $271 billion, with significant allocations directed toward right-wing projects that aim to alter the landscape of the occupied West Bank. According to Al Jazeera, the budget includes a notable allocation of 400 million shekels ($129.5 million) for the Ministry of Settlement and National Missions, which oversees Jewish-only settlements and outposts on Palestinian land.

The budget’s defense spending of $45.8 billion has garnered attention, but analysts highlight a strategic shift towards entrenching occupation and empowering far-right elements within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, known for his opposition to a two-state solution, has been granted extensive powers over the occupied territory, reflecting the government’s commitment to supporting settlers.

Critics argue that the budget serves as a mechanism to impose permanent realities in the region under the guise of national security, particularly against the backdrop of the ongoing war with Iran. The funding will facilitate projects that include building new bypass roads through Palestinian towns and providing security equipment for settlers, which could lead to further displacement of Palestinian communities.

The passing of this budget also underscores the precarious political situation for Netanyahu, who relies on the support of ultra-Orthodox factions to maintain his coalition. A last-minute amendment redirected approximately $255 million to Haredi yeshivas, circumventing a previous legal freeze on these funds. This maneuver has been described as an “insurance policy” for Netanyahu’s political survival ahead of upcoming elections.

The budget’s approval has highlighted divisions within the Israeli opposition, which has struggled to present a cohesive alternative to Netanyahu’s government. Despite their shared opposition to the budget, infighting among opposition leaders has led to criticism and blame within their ranks, indicating a fractured political landscape as the government moves forward with its controversial agenda.