Israeli Defense Minister Urges Opposition to Approve Army Budget Amid Security Concerns

Defense Minister Israel Katz has publicly called on opposition leader Yair Lapid to support an urgent request from the military for an increased budget. Katz stated that the additional funding is crucial for the army's continued operations, ammunition procurement, enhanced reservist payments, security zone maintenance, and defense industry development.

Katz emphasized that Israel faces significant threats, making it impossible to postpone these decisions. He noted that while the economic situation is stable and state funds are available, a special law needs to be passed in the Knesset to allocate them. The Defense Minister stressed that security matters should not be entangled with political disputes over specific budget items.

Sources close to the Defense Minister recalled Lapid's past support for important government expenditures during the pandemic while he was in opposition, expressing regret over his current refusal to back the defense sector at a critical juncture. This appeal followed a security meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lapid that devolved into an argument.

Lapid reportedly demanded that support for the defense budget be linked to the cancellation of coalition funds and allocations for the ultra-Orthodox sector, and also opposed tax increases for the middle class. The Likud party strongly criticized Lapid's stance, calling his claims baseless and attributing the budget deficit reduction to the government's successful economic policies. Likud asserted that Lapid is jeopardizing national security for political gain.