Israel Approves Over $250 Million for Apache Deal, Cuts Arab Sector Budget

By יובל שדה, ניר דבורי, דפנה ליאל, יובל שדה, ניר דבורי

Translated & summarized from N12 by baba

CenterNeutral tone

Hebrew · 14 newsrooms covering

The Israeli government approved over 1 billion shekels for urgent defense procurement, primarily for Apache helicopters, by cutting funds from the Arab sector's five-year plan. The decision was made under pressure to meet a US deadline, despite legal concerns due to its proximity to elections. Defense officials also warned of a significant budget deficit for 2026.

The story in 6 lines · by baba

Israel approved 1.03 billion shekels for defense procurement, largely for Apache helicopters.
The funds will be reallocated from the Arab sector's five-year plan budget for 2027-2029.
The US agreed to an extension for the Apache deal deadline, requiring immediate finalization.
The decision was made two weeks before elections, raising legal concerns about government restraint.
Defense officials warned of a 40 billion shekel budget deficit for 2026.
An additional 2.5 billion shekel cut is being considered for further defense procurement.

Israel Approves Over $250 Million for Apache Deal, Cuts Arab Sector Budget — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

The Israeli government has approved the allocation of 1.03 billion shekels (approximately $275 million) to expedite a classified defense procurement deal, widely understood to be for Apache helicopters. The funds will be largely drawn from the five-year plan budget for the Arab sector for the years 2027-2029, with an additional 68 million shekels allocated for 2026. This decision, made just two weeks before elections, aims to allow the defense establishment to advance urgent procurement.

Defense officials indicated that the deadline for the Apache deal had passed, but the US Department of Defense agreed to an extension until the current day, provided the agreement was finalized. This comes after four previous extensions granted by the US government. The urgency stems from the need to secure the procurement, with defense professionals deeming its advancement to 2026 as non-deferable.

Sources in the defense establishment expressed concern over a significant budget deficit of 40 billion shekels for 2026, noting that funds for urgent tasks have not yet been transferred despite previous agreements. The government is also considering an additional 2.5 billion shekel cut across all ministries for further defense procurement, potentially raising the total defense increase to over 3.5 billion shekels.

The timing of the decision, close to elections, raises legal questions regarding government restraint during election periods. A legal opinion highlighted concerns about creating irreversible facts for a future government and the potential for favoring party interests over public ones. However, the defense ministry's professional staff argued that advancing the procurement and securing funding is operationally essential and cannot be delayed.