Israeli Government Approves Security Budget Increase, Cuts Arab Community Funds
Translated & summarized from Arab48 by baba
The Israeli government approved a 1.03 billion shekel security budget increase, funded by future cuts to the Arab community's development plan. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated the funds would come from reductions in 2027-2029. Critics argue the cuts are election propaganda as the plan is not yet approved. An additional 2.6 billion shekel cut is also planned for urgent security needs.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israeli government approved 1.03 billion shekels for security budget, funded by Arab community funds.
- Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated the cuts are from an unapproved five-year plan.
- The Arab community's budget would be reduced by 170 million to 453 million shekels annually from 2027.
- Critics called the move election propaganda, citing the unapproved nature of the Arab community plan.
- An additional 2.6 billion shekels cut is planned for unspecified urgent security matters.
- The decision follows a recent 15 billion shekel increase to the 2026 security budget.
The Israeli government approved a decision to transfer 1.03 billion shekels to the security budget for "early secret procurement." Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated that the funding for this amount would come from future reductions to the five-year plan for the development of the Arab community. According to the decision text Smotrich presented, the Arab community development plan budget would be reduced by 170 million shekels in 2027, 342 million in 2028, and 453 million in 2029.
However, the newspaper "The Marker" pointed out that the government had not yet approved a new five-year plan for the Arab community, suggesting the budget cuts were "nothing more than election propaganda for Smotrich, who wants to boast about funding the security apparatus at the expense of the Arab community." Smotrich also mentioned another government decision to cut 2.6 billion shekels for "urgent matters" to be discussed later, including a deal for 12 Apache helicopters. He expressed reservations about the Apache deal, calling it a mistake and suggesting cheaper alternatives, but acknowledged the security establishment's strong desire for them and the Prime Minister's decision. He explained that payments to Boeing needed to be made and that the Arab community's five-year plan, which has not yet been approved, would serve as a temporary funding source, with arrangements to be finalized for the 2027 budget.
The Finance Ministry is reportedly struggling against the Ministry of Defense's request for a budget increase, following the Knesset's approval of a 15 billion shekel increase for the 2026 security budget three weeks prior.
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