Moti Bassok

Head of Tax Authority’s real estate unit says decision was made without considering effects on market or economy.

Israeli Finance Minister Yair Lapid launches plan to build more long-term rental units, but former social protest leader MK Stav Shaffir says the real key is to monitor rental prices.

Poorer households will lose 8.4% of their monthly income, on average; rich ones will lose 1.6%.

Officials at the Finance Ministry attribute resignation to freshman minister Yair Lapid.

Haifa dockworkers were earning nearly 50% more than the already steep average of about NIS 26,000 a month at all government-owned companies.

Preliminary figures mark the fourth straight quarter of tepid growth.

Finance minister says 'Riki Cohen will lose NIS 299, but she bought herself an insurance policy.'

Finance Minister Yair Lapid says the leader of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, Aryeh Deri, dishonestly spun reasoning for keeping alive certain education legislation.

Defense spending to be cut by NIS 3 billion, 1 billion less than original plan; budget to be brought before the Knesset for approval.

MK Miki Rosenthal: Netanyahu and former Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz to blame.

Education Minister Shai Piron and Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri reach agreement to postpone budget cuts to the Haredi school networks by at least a few months.

Israel's cabinet expected to approve 2013-2014 budget after marathon talks and public outrage over austerity measures; treasury had been demanding NIS 4 billion cut from defense, while the defense establishment wants increase of NIS 2-3 billion.

Widespread opposition to proposed austerity measures forces treasury to consider amendments that would soften the budget's effect on taxpayers.

Treasury insisted earlier that no, grieving families won't have to pay property tax on cemetery plots, the burial societies will. The burial societies think not.

Lapid is expected to ask for a NIS 4 billion cut in the defense budget, while defense officials are expected to ask for NIS 2 billion to NIS 3 billion in additional funding.

Still, it's hard to deny that Finance Minister Lapid had limited room to maneuver.

In 2011, Teva paid a corporate tax rate of 0.3%, news that stirred a public outcry during a year of social protest.

Life-science and other firms are heading for the capital, where large Haredi and Arab communities still live in poverty.

Lapid defends budgets cuts in joint press conference with head of Histadrut labor federation, says that for the first time the working man 'isn't the principal victim.'

The 2013-2014 budget includes a 1.5 percent increase in come tax rates, a NIS 7 billion cut in government spending for the remaining year and a rise in VAT.

Austerity budget includes a 1.5% income tax hike, health tax on housewives, cuts in child allowances, VAT at 18%.

Move pushed forward by Finance Minister Yair Lapid will bring the government an extra NIS 300-400 million annually.

The prime minister's El Al flight is costing the public about $1 million; less than the $1.4 million his flight to the United States cost.

Plans to create afternoon programs and to reduce classroom size to be nixed as part of NIS 1.5 billion cut to Education Ministry budget.

Bank of Israel deputy governor says the government is committed to addressing the fiscal problem but needs to do more.