Lapid: Netanyahu is not suitable for the duties of his position (French)
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said on Wednesday evening that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "escaped" during the 2024 budget vote.
Lapid said - in a blog post on the X platform shortly after the Knesset voted on the budget - “Netanyahu fled during the vote on the humiliating budget that the Knesset had just approved.”
He added, "He (Netanyahu) is not suitable for the duties of his position, and this budget is invalid."
He continued, "This is the worst government in the country's history, and the worst budget in its history."
On Wednesday evening, the Knesset General Assembly approved the updated draft state budget law for the year 2024 in the first reading.
The draft law requires a vote on three readings to enter into force.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich presented the proposed budget amounting to 724 billion shekels ($198.5 billion), and said it included additions to the security services and rebuilding the home front.
Before the vote, Lapid said, “The budget reflects that the government only deals with what is good for it. Everything that led us to the terrible moment on October 7 is coming back,” according to the Calcalist website.
He added, "This is not a budget, but rather a message that you have not learned anything, and that you, members of the government coalition, only care about yourselves."
In mid-December, the Israeli Knesset finally approved the amended budget for the year 2023, which meets the needs of the war in the Gaza Strip and developments in the north on the border with Lebanon, according to the Israeli “Times of Israel” news website.
Source: Anadolu Agency