Israeli Finance Ministry Affirms Full Funding of Defense Budget Amid Chief of Staff's 'Empty Treasury' Remarks

The Israeli Finance Ministry responded to comments made by Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi, who described the defense budget as an "empty treasury." The ministry emphasized that it fully supports the military effort and has financed all army operations across various fronts with hundreds of billions of shekels according to the system's needs. It highlighted that the defense budget has nearly tripled within two years. The ministry asserted that it has met every agreement, exceeding the original budget approved by the Knesset. Furthermore, the Finance Ministry urged defense leaders to seriously consider the calls to responsibly manage the billions allocated annually to ensure efficient use for national security.