The Israeli Knesset (parliament) approved this year's budget today, which provides for a drastic increase in defense spending, AFP reported, noting that this comes at a time when Israel is fighting on several fronts.
"As part of the budget update and in view of Operation "Roaring Lion", more than 30 billion shekels (about 8.3 billion euros) were added to the Defense Ministry's budget, bringing it to more than 142 billion shekels" (39.3 billion euros), a parliamentary statement said.
Knesset members approved the budget - the largest in Israel's history - by 62 votes to 55 "against".
The overall framework envisages state spending of about 850.59 billion shekels (about 235 billion euros or 270 billion dollars), which includes a current budget of about 621.75 billion shekels and a development and capital expenditure budget of 228.83 billion shekels, the Jerusalem Post reported. The planned spending ceiling is 699 billion shekels.
This comes against the backdrop of the war against Iran that began a month ago, with Israel also fighting against "Hezbollah" in Lebanon, and the cost to the economy is about $1.6 billion a week, Reuters notes.
If the budget were not approved, it would likely lead to early elections within 90 days, which, according to polls so far, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would lose.
The elections are expected to be held in late October, although a date has not yet been set. Netanyahu said they could take place in September.
European foreign policy chief Kaia Kallas condemned Israeli police's blocking of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem from celebrating Palm Sunday mass at the Church of the Resurrection yesterday, calling it a "violation of religious freedom," AFP reported.
"The decision by Israeli police to bar the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem from entering the Church of the Resurrection" on Palm Sunday is a violation of religious freedom and of long-standing measures to protect holy places," she said in a post on social media last night.
"Freedom of worship in Jerusalem must be fully guaranteed, without exception, for all faiths. The multi-religious character of Jerusalem must be protected," added Kaia Kallas.
This morning, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem would be granted immediate access to the Holy Sepulchre.
"I have ordered the competent authorities to grant Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa full and immediate access to the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem," Netanyahu said on the "Ex" network.