Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rose from his hospital bed to urge coalition members to align behind his government’s proposed 2025 budget after hardline factions threatened to withdraw their support. Despite recovering from prostate surgery and against his doctors’ advice, Netanyahu appeared in the Knesset to push for the bill, a wartime austerity measure aimed at boosting state revenues through tax increases and spending cuts.

The narrow passage of the bill highlighted growing fractures within Netanyahu's coalition, which is the most right-wing in Israel's history. Earlier this month, lawmakers approved the budget in a tight preliminary vote, despite demands from some coalition partners for Netanyahu to dismiss Israel's attorney general.

Netanyahu specifically called out far-right Public Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and ultra-Orthodox parties for jeopardizing coalition unity. Ben Gvir has pushed for increased funding for the police under his ministry, while ultra-Orthodox factions oppose legislation requiring some community members to serve in the military.

The budget now moves to Knesset committees for further revisions, with final approval not expected until January. Failure to pass the budget by March 31 would lead to new elections.

In September, Netanyahu attempted to stabilize his coalition by adding opposition lawmaker Gideon Saar and his New Hope party, giving the coalition a more comfortable majority. Saar was appointed foreign minister last month.

Israel’s economy has struggled since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and the subsequent war in Gaza, with inflation rising amid stagnant growth and increasing costs of living.