Israeli Finance Committee Approves Billions for Education and Tourism Ahead of Elections

Two days before the 26th Knesset elections, the Finance Committee, chaired by MK Hanoch Milvidsky, approved significant budget changes for the 2026 fiscal year. These changes, which received the agreement of the Consensus Committee due to their proximity to the elections, allocate substantial funds to the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Tourism, and the rehabilitation of the Gaza envelope region.

The Ministry of Education will receive approximately 500 million shekels for adjusting its expenditure budget according to the five-year plan for classroom construction and additional development budgets. Furthermore, about 97 million shekels were transferred from the Prime Minister's Office to the Ministry of Education, along with 120 million shekels tied to income. These additional funds are designated for teacher salaries, computerization projects, direct funding for teacher organizations, welfare funds, and implementing government decisions to strengthen the north and south, including political agreements for at-risk youth programs, national service volunteers, youth movements, and student villages.

The Ministry of Tourism was allocated approximately 95 million shekels from employment, tourism, and Treasury budgets. This funding supports incoming tourism organizers affected by the "Iron Swords" war, rehabilitation of accommodation facilities that housed evacuees, encouraging domestic tourism, and decisions related to population displacement and absorption during the conflict. An additional 18 million shekels were approved for the Dead Sea Preservation Government Company and tourism infrastructure development.

In planning, about 76 million shekels were approved for supervisory authorities, with an additional 70 million shekels committed for the Planning Administration's ongoing operations and government decisions. The Prime Minister's Office also transferred approximately 131 million shekels to supervisory authorities for past commitments within the "Tkuma Administration" program, aimed at rehabilitating and developing the Gaza envelope.

At the end of the session, Chairman Milvidsky reflected on his tenure, thanking committee members, including MK Moshe Gafni and MK Yinon Azulai, for their support and professional staff for their dedication. MK Azulai commended Milvidsky's professional handling of the role, especially given the extended period he served as chairman.