Finance Minister Smotrich Accuses Defense Establishment of Neglecting IDF Wounded, Veterans Group Reveals Budget Dispute

On July 1, 2026, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich sent an urgent letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding that the defense establishment honor its commitments and include rehabilitation and care for wounded IDF soldiers within its substantial multi-year budget. Smotrich emphasized that the strength of the IDF is measured not only by technology and equipment but primarily by its people, calling the exclusion of wounded soldiers from the main defense budget unacceptable. He specifically referenced the Mor Yosef Committee's recommendations, which were established by the Defense Minister and submitted some time ago, stating that their implementation is urgent and cannot be left out of the allocated defense budget.

The Finance Ministry has reportedly attempted to push cuts to the rights of wounded soldiers, according to the IDF Disabled Veterans Organization. Smotrich criticized repeated statements from defense officials about the importance of caring for wounded soldiers as mere lip service, urging the defense establishment to demonstrate real changes in resource allocation priorities.

In response, the IDF Disabled Veterans Organization issued a detailed letter refuting the Finance Ministry's claims against the Mor Yosef Committee's recommendations. The organization highlighted that the Finance Ministry was fully involved in the committee's work, signed off on its recommendations, and hailed them as a "historic revolution." However, at the implementation and budgeting stage, the ministry is attempting to retract its commitments. The veterans group revealed that during committee discussions, the Finance Ministry sought to advance measures that would harm wounded soldiers’ rights, including revoking recognition of thousands of PTSD-affected veterans. These moves were blocked thanks to the steadfastness of committee members, the Defense Ministry, and the veterans organization.

The veterans group called on Finance Minister Smotrich to uphold his commitments and promptly approve the necessary budgets to fully implement the Mor Yosef Committee's recommendations, stressing the moral and ethical obligation to care for the tens of thousands of wounded IDF veterans who have served in combat.