Netanyahu and Smotrich to Propose Exceptional Defense Budget Increase Amid Knesset Recess

Despite the Knesset recess, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich have agreed to present an exceptional supplementary defense budget for government approval next week. This additional funding is intended for urgent procurement of weapons and ammunition for the Israel Defense Forces. The proposal requires the approval of the State Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara, and will be subject to votes in the Finance Committee, the Knesset plenum, and the government. Since the national budget deficit currently stands at 3.3%, well below the approved ceiling of 4.9%, the increase will not necessitate new taxes or cuts in other ministries. However, such budgetary expansions are generally prohibited during election periods. A senior government official estimated the supplementary amount at approximately 25 billion shekels, which would raise the defense budget for the year to a record high of about 184 billion shekels.