IDF Chief Warns Budget Shortfall Threatens Military Readiness Amid Pension Dispute

IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi warned of a "budget battle" with the Finance Ministry, highlighting that the military is facing an "empty treasury" that is harming its operational readiness. Speaking during a multi-front security assessment ahead of the holiday period, Kochavi emphasized the army's high alert status due to threats from Iran, Lebanon, and Gaza, and ordered increased readiness in the West Bank with an additional regular division headquarters deployed.

Alongside these security concerns, Kochavi addressed the ongoing financial dispute with the Finance Ministry, which has frozen millions of shekels in payments requested by the IDF for the dismissed military advocate Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi. Tomer-Yerushalmi was set to receive substantial retirement benefits worth millions, but the Finance Ministry halted these payments amid a scandal involving criminal allegations against her.

Defense Minister Israel Katz instructed Kochavi to exhaust all available measures to revoke Tomer-Yerushalmi's rights and benefits immediately and to avoid any leniency in her case due to the severity of the accusations. This financial standoff has intensified criticism of the military's handling of the situation and raised questions about whether Kochavi is crossing from security messaging into a political and budgetary confrontation with the government.

The IDF maintains that despite the budget constraints, all units will remain fully operational during the holidays, with no reduction in combat readiness or force levels. However, the chief's remarks underscore the tension between maintaining military preparedness and managing financial limitations imposed by the government.