TEL AVIV, August 4, 2026 (WAFA) – The Israeli Knesset Finance Committee held a special session on Tuesday during the election recess to approve the allocation of hundreds of millions of shekels for colonial expansion.
The committee discussed the allocation of 335 million shekels as part of a long list of budget items that had not been fully approved during a session held at the end of last week.
If approved, the allocation would raise the budget of the Israeli Settlement Ministry for the current year to a record 821 million shekels, in addition to 944 million shekels in future financial commitments, making it higher than the budgets of 15 other ministries.
Meanwhile, Israeli occupation Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced the allocation of 113 million shekels for the “development of more than 70 archaeological and heritage sites” in the occupied West Bank, describing the move as the first of its kind.
During the session, activists stormed the hall in protest against the allocation of funds to colonies before being removed from the room.
Finance Committee Chairman Hanoch Milwidsky described the protesters as “worse than terrorists” and told one of the activists, “Shame, shame, shame. Disgusting, repulsive,” while the committee continued voting.
T.R.
