The Israeli Ministry of Finance reported today, Thursday, that "Israel recorded a budget deficit of 4.2% of GDP in 2023, following a surplus of 0.6% in 2022, due to increased government spending to fund the war against the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas)." It added that "the recorded deficit in December amounted to 33.8 billion shekels (nine billion dollars) compared to 18.5 billion in the previous year."