Netanyahu and Lapid Discuss Defense Budget Expansion with Accountant General
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yair Lapid discussed defense budget expansion with Accountant General Michal Abadi-Boiangiu as the military faces a 25 billion shekel gap.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Yair Lapid held a conference call with Accountant General Michal Abadi-Boiangiu to discuss funding sources for expanding the defense budget. The defense establishment estimates a funding gap of 25 billion shekels, while Netanyahu seeks to increase the budget by tens of billions from the current 158 billion shekels.
Budget Deficit and Ministerial Position
Abadi-Boiangiu stated that while she opposes exceeding the government's 4.9% deficit target for state budget revisions, Treasury estimates suggest the year will end with a lower deficit due to higher-than-expected tax revenues. She emphasized that the matter falls under the purview of Budget Director Mehran Prozner and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who could not be reached for the conference call.
"I believe 2027 will also be a complex year regarding the size of the defense budget," said Abadi-Boiangiu.
Unlike the Budgets Division, the Accountant General does not believe that opening the state budget during an election period should be summarily dismissed. She noted that part of the 400 billion shekel IDF build-up budget can be secured through cancellable contracts for urgent munitions orders, ensuring military needs are met while accommodating future government oversight.
