Military Affairs Analyst Stunned by Netanyahu-Lapid Budget Meeting

Military affairs analyst Yossi Yehoshua expressed astonishment at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's recent engagement with the IDF's budget crisis. Yehoshua noted it was "quite amazing" that Netanyahu and Smotrich sent a high-ranking IDF official, Planning Directorate head Major General Eyal Zamir, to brief opposition leader Yair Lapid on the army's severe financial shortfalls. The IDF reportedly requires tens of billions of shekels for ongoing operations and modernization during a sensitive period.

Yehoshua criticized Netanyahu and Smotrich for ignoring the military's warnings for the past six months and failing to allocate necessary funds, while simultaneously channeling money to coalition partners. He highlighted that the government now requires opposition support to pass the budget, as the issue has escalated into a full-blown crisis.

Earlier reports indicated that during a security briefing, Netanyahu requested Lapid convene the Knesset to approve a special budget for the IDF. Lapid agreed, stipulating that the funds should not come from tax increases but from cuts to coalition funding.