JERUSALEM, (Reuters) – Israel’s parliament approved its 2021 budget Thursday. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s government met a deadline to pass the bill and avoided a threat of a fresh election.

Parlament continued their overnight session. It will vote separately on the budget 2022. Most people expect that the package will be approved early Friday.

A test of Bennett’s multi-party coalition, which includes right-wing, centre-right, and Arab parties was passed by the legislature, 61 votes to 59 in favor of the 2021 budget.

The failure to secure ratification by the parliamentary body of the 2021-related package by Nov. 14, would have led to an election by law. But many political commentators believed it would be approved.

The prolonged political deadlock in Israel meant no budget in Israel’s legislature for more than three and a half years. According to economists, this is hampering growth as the budget has been prorated.

The passage of the budget for 2021 was almost five months after Bennett’s government came into office. This replaced Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration, which had been in place since 2002 when it failed to win four elections.

Bennett of the far-right party headed by Bennett said, “It’s an occasion for celebration for Israel,” after the election.

After years of turmoil, we set up a government and overcame (COVID-19), the Delta variant. Now, thanks to God, we have passed a budget.