Defense Minister Cancels Meeting With Opposition Leader Over IDF Budget Dispute

A planned meeting between Defense Minister Israel Katz and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, scheduled for Thursday at the Kirya military headquarters, was canceled the day before. The meeting was intended to secure opposition support for a "critical" IDF budget.

The cancellation is reportedly due to ongoing disagreements between the Treasury and the Defense Ministry regarding the budget itself, despite political differences.

During a confidential Knesset session on Wednesday discussing the budget, sharp exchanges occurred between IDF representatives and Treasury officials. The budget is described as "critical" for the military.

Last month, defense establishment officials sent an urgent message to the political leadership, emphasizing the immediate need for the budget to replenish military stores. While the IDF cannot publicly disclose specific shortages, the urgency of the situation is clear.