Moshe Gafni

Outcome of state budget vote uncertain amid coalition crisis over haredi draft

By law, if the state budget is not approved in all three readings by the end of March, when the fiscal year closes, the Knesset will automatically dissolve, and elections will be called.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his cabinet seen at the Knesset plenum, June 11, 2025
A PLENUM session at the Knesset.

2026 budget reading puts government at risk, after months of ideological sparring - analysis

 Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as lawmakers gather at the Knesset plenum to vote on a bill that would limit some Supreme Court power, in Jerusalem July 24, 2023.

Netanyahu convenes emergency meeting as haredi parties threaten to block state budget vote

Supreme Court justices preside over a hearing at the High Court of Justice in Jerusalem, December 1, 2025

High Court to hear two cases blocking haredi education funds amid legal disputes


Ministers approve controversial 'Hametz Law' for preliminary reading in Knesset

The "Hametz Law" makes it illegal for hospitals to enter or hold hametz (leavened bread) during Passover.

A MAN wraps fresh matza during Passover in Ashdod in 2016

Israel delays bill to freeze mortgage rates for first-time buyers

Gafni and Smotrich said they would meet with the banking regulator, which is part of the central bank, to come up with a solution for mortgage holders.

Real estate market

MK Moshe Gafni proposes law to segregate Israel's nature reserves

A bill put forward by the UTJ MK could see Israel's nature reserves become segregated by gender for at least 15% of their operational hours.

 Head of the Finance committee MK Moshe Gafni leads a Finance committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on January 17, 2023.

Knesset members receive 'just' 5.1% salary raise due to cost of living crisis

The salaries were frozen during the COVID-19 pandemic and were supposed to automatically rise by 12.5%.

 The Knesset building, home of Israel's legislature, in Jerusalem, on November 14, 2022 (Illustrative).

Did a Jewish fast day play a role in Ben-Gvir's Temple Mount trip? - opinion

Biden aide: “I told them: today is one of those fasts which mark the lead-up to the destruction. Where the Israeli minister went today is the place where both Temples existed and were destroyed.”

 US STATE DEPARTMENT spokesman Ned Price speaks during a news conference in Washington.

Likud's chief Netanyahu critic given Knesset Economy Committee chair

10 of 12 chairs were approved, while the two other committees will be headed by Likud MKs who will be approved in a faction meeting.

 THE CONDUCT of Netanyahu and his obedient cronies over the last year has been nothing less than despicable. (Pictured: With Likud MKs Miri Regev and David Bitan)

UTJ's Gafni slams Ben-Gvir, says Temple Mount visit was 'a violation of Jewish law'

Ben-Gvir responded to Gafni's accusations by saying that he should find it "inappropriate to preach morals."

 LEFT: UTJ MK Moshe Gafni, RIGHT: Otzma Yehudit leader MK Itamar Ben Gvir

Israel's 37th government set to take power

Coalition agreement filed; a number of Likud MKs are unhappy

 Incoming prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a Likud faction meeting following the signing of the final coalition deals, December 28, 2022.

Israeli dog owners could fork out thousands under revived haredi bill

Past coalition members claimed the bill was a 'tit for tat' move in response to Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman's tax on plastic utensils.

 People seen with their dogs in downtown Jerusalem on January 14, 2021

Netanyahu's partners are brewing a subprime crisis - analysis

MIDDLE ISRAEL: Lurking behind a financially dangerous financial-aid bill is an exciting economic controversy between the new coalition's ultra-Orthodox and modern-Orthodox members.

THE KNESSET Finance Committee’s incoming chairman, United Torah Judaism’s Moshe Gafni, presents an anti-economic bill that challenges the capitalist zeal of incoming finance minister Bezalel Smotrich.