Ex-Budget Chief Warns Against Annexation, Criticizes Government Economic Policy

Shaul Meridor, former head of the Budget Division and a member of the "Yashar" party, expressed strong opposition to extending Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, warning that annexing 2.8 million Palestinians would "crush the amazing Zionist enterprise we built here." He argued such a move would impose a heavy economic and security burden and lead to international isolation. Meridor clarified his party's stance on settlements, stating they support settlement activity only if it is legal and aligns with Israel's national interest. While currently opposing a Palestinian state, his party refuses to manage the civilian lives of millions of Palestinians.

Meridor also sharply criticized Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's economic policies, describing the current data as a mere initial recovery from a severe downturn, with Israeli citizens paying a high price in interest on national debt. To fund the defense budget, he suggested reallocating funds from coalition-related budgets to security needs, calling attempts to increase national debt a political spin to protect coalition partners at the public's expense.

Addressing the sensitive issue of Haredi conscription, Meridor admitted a past mistake by the Budget Division in prioritizing exemption for employment, warning that current non-conscription policies create deep societal rifts and "two economies", one of those who serve and one of draft dodgers. He stated his party would advance a universal service law and would not join a coalition with Haredi parties opposing it.

Regarding the youth housing crisis, Meridor urged the government to create long-term rental solutions and discounted tenders for reservists, suggesting that streamlining planning bureaucracy and reprioritizing national goals could enable young people to afford housing within a few years.

Finally, Meridor voiced full confidence in the Supreme Court's ability to disqualify candidates and dismissed the death penalty law as populist. He criticized Prime Minister Netanyahu's handling of Israel's international standing and defended Gadi Eisenkot against Likud attacks, praising him as "a person of values, a Zionist, honest, a security expert."