Israel's Defense Budget Soars Amid Cuts to Social Services
Translated & summarized from Kan News by baba
Israel's defense budget for 2026 has ballooned to 183 billion shekels, necessitating further cuts to social services. This increase, driven by recent security events, raises questions about the trade-off between defense spending and essential services like education and health. Experts warn of potential negative long-term consequences for social welfare and the military's strategic direction.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israel's 2026 defense budget has surged to 183 billion shekels, up from an initial 112 billion.
- The government approved an additional 2.6 billion shekels for defense by cutting other ministries.
- Experts warn defense spending comes at the expense of education, health, and welfare.
- A former MK cautions against a military with unlimited resources and no clear concept.
- The defense budget increase follows recent escalations involving Iran.
Israel's defense budget for 2026 has significantly increased, reaching 183 billion shekels, a substantial portion of the state's budget. This figure represents a considerable rise from the initial 112 billion shekels, especially after additional funding was approved following recent escalations with Iran. Just before the elections, the government authorized another broad cut across ministries to allocate an additional 2.6 billion shekels to defense. While the aim is to prevent another October 7th-like event, experts warn that every shekel directed towards defense comes at the expense of education, health, and welfare for years to come.
Liel Keiser explains the trajectory of the defense budget into the tens of billions annually and the sources of this funding. Ofer Shelah, a senior fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies and former Knesset Member, discusses why the Treasury often loses budget debates against the military. Shelah also cautions against a "military without a concept and with unlimited resources," drawing parallels to the "lost decade" following the Yom Kippur War.
