DaysofPal – The Israeli Knesset has advanced legislation to inject an additional 30.8 billion shekels ($9.23 billion) into the state budget to cover soaring military costs, in a first-reading vote held during an extraordinary summer recess session.
The bill, which still requires two further readings before becoming law, passed narrowly with 42 lawmakers in favor and 37 opposed. According to the Israeli financial daily Calcalist, most of the new funds will be directed toward security spending to offset the army’s mounting expenses in Gaza and in the June confrontation with Iran.
The vote followed a political compromise between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and ultra-Orthodox factions. Shas, which controls 11 seats, voted in favor, while United Torah Judaism abstained.
In return, the Finance Committee is set to approve an additional 80 million shekels ($24 million) for the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
Alongside the war spending bill, parliament also approved raising the deficit ceiling to 5.2%, up from 4.9%. Israel’s 2025 budget, passed in March at 619 billion shekels ($185.55 billion), had already earmarked 110 billion shekels ($33 billion) for defense, but disputes have since escalated between the Finance and Defense ministries.
Military officials are demanding as much as 60 billion shekels ($18 billion) in extra funds to restock missile systems and purchase armored vehicles for ongoing operations in Gaza.
The budget debate comes against a backdrop of internal unease. Earlier this month, Israel’s Channel 12 published details of a confidential army assessment admitting that Operation Iron Swords (May–August 2023) had failed to achieve its objectives, including defeating Hamas and freeing hostages.
Nevertheless, on September 3 the army launched Iron Swords 2 to seize Gaza City, sparking protests and criticism over the risks to both captives and soldiers.
According to Israel’s Public Broadcasting Corporation, the price tag of Iron Swords 2 alone is estimated at between $6 billion and $7.5 billion, underscoring the scale of the financial burden.
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