Israeli Finance Minister Demands Immediate Funding for IDF Wounded Care Amid Budget Dispute

The Israeli Finance Ministry and the Ministry of Defense are clashing over the defense budget allocation, specifically regarding funding for the IDF Rehabilitation Department. The general defense budget recently approved by the Finance Ministry totals 350 billion shekels but notably excludes the 2.5 billion shekels needed for wounded soldiers' care. The Defense Ministry claims the allocated funds are designated for other purposes and insists that additional separate funding is required for rehabilitation.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich expressed strong dissatisfaction with this exclusion in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Kitz. Smotrich emphasized the moral and national duty to support wounded soldiers from the moment of injury through their rehabilitation, calling it an integral part of Israel’s security doctrine. He criticized the omission of the Rehabilitation Department’s budget and the failure to implement the recommendations of the Mor Yosef Committee, which was established by the Defense Minister and submitted its findings some time ago.

Smotrich further condemned the Defense Ministry for not prioritizing the rehabilitation of wounded soldiers within the multi-year defense budget framework. He urged the Defense Ministry to move beyond verbal commitments and demonstrate concrete changes in resource allocation to address the urgent needs of injured soldiers and those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. The letter also referenced recent Knesset events where wounded soldiers voiced sharp criticism over the lack of adequate financial support and attention from the Defense Ministry. As of now, the Defense Ministry has not responded to these demands.