Finance Committee (Israel)

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The Finance Committee (Hebrew: ועדת הכספים) is a permanent Knesset committee which oversees finance issues of the State of Israel, including the drafting of legislation, supervision over related government ministries and the approval of their budgets. It is regarded as one of two most important Knesset committees (the other being the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee). Article 100(2) of the Knesset's Rules of Procedure[1] states that its areas of concern are "the state budget; taxes of all kinds; customs and excise duties; loans; currency and foreign exchange matters; banking and banknotes; state revenues and expenditures."

Activity

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The finance committee is considered one of the most important and influential committees in the Knesset and has great political weight. The committee deals, among other things, with the state budget, taxes of all kinds, banking, banknotes, and state revenues and expenditures.

The committee discusses the state budget and prepares them for second and third voting in the Knesset plenum. It has the ability to have a far-reaching influence on the composition of the budget, which includes, among other things, transferring financial support to various sectors and bodies. The committee also discusses economic laws, and in particular tax laws.[2]

Chairmen

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Portrait Chairman Took office Left office Party Ref.
Avraham Hirschson
Hirschson, AvrahamAvraham Hirschson
(1941–2022)		March 2003? Likud[3]
Yaakov Litzman
Litzman, YaakovYaakov Litzman
(born 1948)		?2007 UTJ[4]
Stas Misezhnikov
Misezhnikov, StasStas Misezhnikov
(born 1969)		20072008 Yisrael Beiteinu[4]
Avishay Braverman
Braverman, AvishayAvishay Braverman
(born 1948)		2008 Labor[5]
Moshe Gafni
Gafni, MosheMoshe Gafni
(born 1952)		20202021 UTJ[6]
Alex Kushnir
Kushnir, AlexAlex Kushnir
(born 1978)		20212022 Yisrael Beiteinu[7]
Moshe Gafni
Gafni, MosheMoshe Gafni
(born 1952)		20222025 UTJ[8]
Ofir Katz
Katz, OfirOfir Katz
(born 1980)		20252025 Likud[9]
Hanoch Milwidsky
Milwidsky, HanochHanoch Milwidsky
(born 1973)		2025Incumbent Likud[10]

Subcommittees

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The finance committee has subcommittees, which change from time to time. The committee also has joint committees with other committees. Below is a list of the subcommittees and joint committees of the Finance Committee in the 25th Knesset:

  • Subcommittee on Supervision of Financial Services Providers in the Capital Markets
  • Joint Committee of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and the Finance Committee on the Defense Budget
  • Joint Committee of the Knesset Committee and the Finance Committee on the Knesset Budget under the Budget Foundations Law

References

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  1. ^ "תקנון הכנסת – ויקיטקסט". he.wikisource.org (in Hebrew). Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  2. ^ "מהכספים ועד לביקורת: מה תפקידן של ועדות הכנסת ומי יעמוד בראשן". ynet (in Hebrew). 30 May 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  3. ^ "Ex-finance Minister: I Got Money From Union, but Didn't Break Law". Haaretz. 17 August 2008. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  4. ^ a b Friedman, Avital (23 July 2025). "Replacing a Knesset Committee Chair". Israel Democracy Institute. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  5. ^ "MK Avishay Braverman named head of Knesset's Finance Committee". Ynet. 23 July 2008. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  6. ^ "Finance Committee unanimously elects MK Moshe Gafni as its chairman". Knesset. 1 June 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  7. ^ "MK Alex Kushnir appointed as Finance Committee Chair, says: "This is not my committee or our committee, it's the public's committee; we'll do everything to leave politics outside the door"". Knesset. 13 July 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  8. ^ "UTJ's Gafni returns to Finance Committee chair". Reuters/i24NEWS. 21 November 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  9. ^ Lior, Gad (16 July 2025). "Finance Committee approves appointment of Ophir Katz as chairman, replacing Moshe Gafni". Ynet. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  10. ^ Sokol, Sam (29 July 2025). "Likud MK under investigation for rape approved as new head of Knesset Finance Committee". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
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