Israel's Finance Committee approved the 2025 Budget Bill for second and third readings after a 13-hour marathon session, with scrutiny falling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's family expenses, The Marker reported on March 23.

The Netanyahu family, suspected of abusing government funds for personal reasons, have repeatedly come in the crosshairs of prosecutors and government oversight committees with particular focus on the children of Benjamin Netanyahu. 

The state budget will total NIS756bn ($210bn), with a spending cap of NIS620bn ($172bn). The defence sector will receive NIS110bn ($30.5bn), while education funding stands at NIS92bn ($25.5bn).

Most discussions centred on education funding and coalition allocations primarily designated for the Haredi education system.

Before the proposal's submission, the Ministry of Finance presented the expenses section for the Prime Minister's Office, including Netanyahu's family expenses and security costs.

Officials claimed they couldn't provide a comprehensive financial breakdown, citing Shin Bet instructions, but failed to include this information even in the committee's confidential section.

"Over the past two weeks, I have been trying endlessly to reach the Ministry of Defence. They referred this to the Shin Bet two weeks ago," the committee's attorney stated during the publicly broadcasted Knesset session. Opposition members subsequently boycotted the vote on the Prime Minister's Office clause.

The budget approval comes as Netanyahu faces the 19th day of his corruption trial at the Tel Aviv District Courthouse. The Prime Minister is simultaneously navigating significant internal political challenges after recently passing a no-confidence motion against Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and dismissing Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar.

The budget now moves forward for final approval amid ongoing tensions surrounding both domestic politics and the Gaza conflict.

Israeli Labor Party MP Naama Lazimi, claimed during a Knesset Finance Committee at a February 23 meeting that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's son Yair was forced into exile after allegedly hitting his father.

While the fragile Gaza ceasefire deal remains intact and Netanyahu’s trial is ongoing, the prime minister will look to stabilise his government and steer clear of further controversy to advance his governance agenda.

“I want to ask if this amount is still budgeted and whether there is still an intention to finance [Yair Netanyahu’s] stay because he hit the prime minister and was forced to go abroad because he harmed a symbol of government,” Lazimi stated during the meeting.

The claims, made during budget discussions, sparked immediate controversy. The Likud party strongly rejected the accusations, calling them an “absolute lie and detestable, a new low from the depths of the Left's sewer”, as per The Jerusalem Post.