Netanyahu Proposes Increased Defense Budget; Lapid Sets Conditions
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Opposition Leader Yair Lapid for a security briefing, where the topic of increasing the defense budget was a key point of discussion. Netanyahu proposed reopening the Budget Law to allocate additional funds to the defense establishment. Lapid expressed his support for increasing the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) budget but emphasized that the funding source should not involve tax increases on the middle class or reservists.
Lapid stated, "I support the proposal and support transferring the funds, because the IDF needs to be strengthened, but the source of the funding cannot be tax increases on the middle class and reservists, which is where you are leading us." He insisted that the additional funds should come from the cancellation of coalition funds and budgets that he claimed are used to finance Haredi draft evasion.
He further demanded, "Include in the proposal the cancellation of the corrupt coalition funds and the tens of billions of shekels that you are currently transferring to finance Haredi draft evasion - and we will support the proposal in the Knesset as well."
In response, Likud rejected Lapid's assertions, arguing that increasing the defense budget would not necessitate higher taxes. The party stated, "Lapid’s claims are baseless and false. State revenues were higher than expected as a result of the government’s economic policies, and consequently, the deficit is also lower than expected." Likud maintained that under these circumstances, additional funds could be allocated to the defense establishment without raising taxes.
Likud's Defense Against Lapid's Accusations
The party also dismissed Lapid’s claims regarding the scale of coalition funds and budgets allocated to the Haredi sector, asserting, "There have never been such sums allocated to coalition funds and the Haredi sector - not even close." Likud escalated its criticism, accusing Lapid of compromising the security of Israel for political gain.
Intelligence Reviewed
Lapid's office responded to the accusations, stating, "Likud is once again lying and abandoning the security of the state." They reiterated that during the closed-door meeting, which included IDF representatives, Lapid made it clear that he supports the transfer of funds necessary for the IDF to fulfill its missions. However, he maintained his stance on the funding source, insisting that it should not come from tax increases or additional burdens on the working and serving public.
According to Lapid, the proposed increase in defense spending should be financed through cuts to coalition funds and budgets that he claims are annually allocated to support Haredi draft evasion.
