National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has secured funding for his department to construct 936 new prison beds over a three-year period, totaling 536 million shekels. The Marker reported on this development.
Treasury officials insisted that the funds be sourced from Ben Gvir's department budget. Approximately two weeks ago, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich proposed sequestering the budgets of all ministries, sparking outrage among many cabinet members.
Following intense negotiations, a compromise was reached. Half of the program's funding will come from the sequestered budgets, while the remaining half will be drawn from the Defense Department budget.
The Department of Homeland Security will be responsible for funding 225 new positions within the Bureau of Prisons from its own budget.
