Netanyahu Seeks Budget Revision for Defense; Lapid Demands Cuts to Haredi Funding

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu requested a revision of the state budget during a security briefing with Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, aiming to allocate additional funds to the defense establishment. Lapid expressed support for bolstering the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) but conditioned his backing on reallocating funds, specifically proposing the cancellation of coalition funds directed towards the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) sector.

According to Lapid's office, he told Netanyahu that while he supports increasing defense spending, the source of the funds should not be increased taxes on the middle class and reservists. Instead, Lapid suggested that canceling "corrupt coalition funds" and the "tens of billions of shekels" currently used to finance Haredi draft evasion would be an acceptable alternative, enabling his support for the budget revision in the Knesset (parliament).

Netanyahu and Lapid met for a security update, during which the budget proposal was discussed. The specifics of the defense funding increase were not detailed, but the core of the disagreement centered on the proposed funding source and Lapid's demand to redirect Haredi-allocated funds.