Netanyahu Seeks Opposition Backing for Wartime Budget Hike

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing for significant adjustments to the state budget, primarily to increase defense spending amid the ongoing war. This move necessitates convening the Knesset plenum during the election period, a prospect met with opposition.

The opposition, led by Yair Lapid, argues that any necessary budget increases should be funded by cutting allocations to coalition parties, which they deem excessive, totaling over five billion shekels. They contend that legal amendments are unnecessary for such adjustments.

To bridge this divide, Netanyahu has enlisted Deputy IDF Chief of Staff Major General Eyal Zamir to brief opposition leader Yair Lapid on urgent security needs. The aim is to secure broad political support for the substantial budget revision without compromising coalition funding, as reported by Channel 12.

Netanyahu insists that the proposed defense budget increase is too large to pass without explicit legal changes, requiring opposition consent and a Knesset session despite the election campaign. He believes Lapid's approval would facilitate the passage of these legal amendments.

The government's objective is to align the budget framework with wartime security expenditures, a goal that demands wide political consensus. The opposition, however, questions the necessity of expanding the overall budget, suggesting existing funds, particularly coalition allocations, could be reallocated to cover security requirements.