A fiery government meeting on Israel’s 2025 budget saw ministers trade accusations over defense spending, Gaza aid, and school security, ending with approval of a 31 billion shekel war-driven adjustment.
Cabinet Showdown
What was meant to be a structured discussion on the 2025 state budget turned into a political battlefield, as ministers clashed over defense allocations, humanitarian aid to Gaza, and domestic security funding.
After hours of verbal sparring, the government narrowly approved an across-the-board cut and an additional 31 billion shekels to cover war-related expenses — nearly 28 billion shekels earmarked for defense and 1.5 billion shekels for humanitarian aid centers in Gaza.
Smotrich vs. Ben-Gvir
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich defended the move, stressing the ministry was covering expenses from past military campaigns (Operation Rising Lion and Gideon’s Chariots).
But National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir erupted:
“Bezalel, you are making fun of everyone. You have the money — and you’re also giving money to Hamas!”
He also turned to Minister Orit Strock: “Where are you after all your shouting in the cabinet?”
Smotrich fired back: “The only way money won’t reach Hamas is through the food distribution centers.” Strock echoed that the cabinet had already decided to establish such centers to block Hamas’s control of aid.
“Children of Gaza Over Children of Israel”
Education Minister Yoav Kisch joined the fray, accusing Smotrich of betrayal:
“You prefer the children of Gaza over the children of Israel. You took 500 million and didn’t even tell us. You gave humanitarian aid to Gaza instead of security to our schools!”
Kisch went further, branding Smotrich “a small man with a big ego.”
Netanyahu Intervenes
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attempted to cool tempers, saying: “What is going on at this table will not be resolved instantly. We will hold a separate discussion about security in my office.”
Finance Ministry’s Defense
Smotrich’s office later clarified that the Ministry of National Security had diverted security funds but failed to restore them from other sources. The Ministry of Finance argued that the budget changes were not expansions but reprioritizations aimed at deficit control.
Key measures include:
- Prioritizing war-related expenses from Operation Rising Lion
- Support for unpaid leave
- Shelter renovation and municipal reimbursements for emergency costs
- A 3.35% horizontal cut to all ministries starting 2026
