Israel Approves 4.9% Budget Cuts Across Ministries for Defense Funding
Translated & summarized from Davar by baba
The Israeli government approved a 4.9% budget cut across all ministries for 2026, totaling NIS 2.6 billion, to fund an over-budget defense allocation. Major cuts will affect transportation, welfare, health, and education. The decision aims to comply with deficit laws and minimize impact on the next government, as the defense spending is urgent for 2026. Critics argue these cuts harm social services and vulnerable populations, advocating for cuts to coalition budgets instead.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- The Israeli government approved a 4.9% budget cut across ministries to transfer NIS 2.6 billion to defense.
- The cuts are for the 2026 budget and aim to address a defense budget shortfall.
- Significant reductions will impact the Ministries of Transportation, Welfare, Health, and Education.
- The decision is intended to comply with deficit reduction laws and election period restrictions.
- The National Union of Social Workers criticized the cuts, calling for reductions in coalition budgets instead.
The Israeli government has approved a sweeping 4.9% cut to the budgets of all ministries for 2026, in order to transfer NIS 2.6 billion to the defense budget, which is currently over its allocation. This decision follows a previous move to reallocate approximately NIS 1 billion from a five-year plan for the Arab society, which had not been utilized, towards the purchase of helicopters.
Significant cuts will be made to the transportation, welfare, health, and education ministries. The Ministry of Transportation will see its budget reduced by about NIS 423 million, the Ministry of Education by NIS 107 million, and the Ministry of Construction and Housing by NIS 83 million. The Ministry of Welfare's budget will be cut by approximately NIS 137 million, and the Ministry of Health by NIS 109 million.
The decision states that the Treasury's Budget Division and the affected ministries may agree on different reductions within each ministry's spending categories. The explanatory notes indicate the cuts are necessary to comply with the deficit reduction and government spending limitation law. Furthermore, due to legal restrictions on government decision-making during an election period, the cuts are designed to minimize their impact on the next government's ability to act, as the defense procurement is urgent and intended only for 2026, with most budgetary implications also occurring that year.
Inbal Hermoni, Chairwoman of the National Union of Social Workers, criticized the decision, stating, "The Israeli government continues its destructive path regarding social services. Security is not just missiles and interceptors, but also the ability to provide citizens with welfare, health, rehabilitation, and education services." She argued that national resilience cannot be discussed while cutting hundreds of millions from essential budgets, directly harming vulnerable populations. Hermoni called for cuts to be made from coalition budgets instead, highlighting that the welfare budget has already faced nearly NIS 500 million in cuts over the past year amidst deepening social needs and overburdened social workers. She demanded a 20% increase in the welfare budget to ensure functional social services.
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