Lapid Links Defense Budget Hike to Cuts in Haredi Exemption, Coalition Funds

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with opposition leader Yair Lapid on Sunday for a security briefing, during which an increase in the defense budget was discussed. Netanyahu aims to reopen the state budget to allocate additional funds to the security apparatus. Lapid expressed support for strengthening the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) but conditioned his backing on the source of the funding.

Lapid stated that while he supports reinforcing the IDF, the funds should not come from increased taxes on the middle class and reservists, as he claims Netanyahu intends. Instead, Lapid proposed that the additional defense spending be financed by eliminating "corrupt coalition funds" and reallocating money currently used to fund the military service exemption for the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community.

Lapid's office confirmed that this position was clearly communicated during the meeting, which included IDF representatives. He emphasized that the army must have all necessary resources. The Likud party rejected Lapid's claims, asserting that the defense budget increase would not require tax hikes. They attributed potential new funding to state revenues exceeding forecasts due to the government's economic policy and a lower-than-expected deficit.

The Likud also disputed Lapid's assertion of "tens of billions of shekels" being allocated to coalition funds and the Haredi sector, calling the amounts "never approached such sums." The party accused Lapid of abandoning Israel's security for political gain. Lapid's office retorted, accusing the Likud of lying and jeopardizing national security, reiterating that the military's needs should not burden working citizens and service members.