Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir Apologizes to Prime Minister Netanyahu

In Tel Aviv, Israel, Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir expressed regret for causing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to leave the hospital early to vote on a Knesset bill. Ben-Gvir also apologized to Likud MK Boaz Bismuth, who interrupted mourning for his mother to vote. Ben-Gvir stated, "I apologize to the Prime Minister and my friend Boaz Bismuth. From now on, we will offset the Prime Minister until he fully recovers." Offsetting is a practice where a member's absence is balanced by an opposing member abstaining from voting.

Netanyahu, recovering from prostate surgery, left Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital against medical advice to attend the vote, accompanied by his doctor. His lawyers requested a two-week delay in his corruption trial for recovery. The vote on the "Trapped Profits Law" passed narrowly, 59-58, allowing taxation on retained corporate earnings. Failure to pass could have risked the state budget or created a 10-billion-shekel deficit. The Knesset must pass a budget by March 31 to avoid triggering national elections.

Eight coalition members opposed the bill, including five from Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit party, which seeks increased funding for security services, and three from United Torah Judaism, which wants military service exemptions for Orthodox Jews.