The next major hurdle for Benjamin Netanyahu's government will come at the end of next month, when the long-overdue budget is finally presented to the Knesset.

For the past six months Israel has been functioning on "fiscal autopilot". No budget was presented for 2015 due to the dissolution of the previous parliament and the election.

On Monday evening the coalition just scraped through a pre-budget vote, after summoning the unwell Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz from his home to ensure a majority.

The vote amended the Budget Law, allowing the government another extension until formally presenting the budget on August 31.

The most intensive discussions over the budget are expected to be within the coalition, as every party and even individual MKs will be able to demand concessions from Mr Netanyahu and Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon.

The pair will be anxious not to jeopardise their razor-thin majority of only two MKs.

Mr Netanyahu has been trying to get the coalition to agree to a three-year budget, however the other coalition parties have refused to relinquish their opportunity to force concessions next year as well.