Treasury: There are coalition billions that can go to security

Treasury data shows that about 60% of coalition funds for 2026, approximately 3 billion shekels, have not yet been obligated and can be canceled. Meanwhile, since April, the government has approved programs and budgets totaling hundreds of millions of shekels, including distinct sectoral budgets, against the backdrop of the demand for an increase in the defense budget.

According to data from the Ministry of Finance, out of approximately 5 billion shekels designated as coalition funds for 2026, about 3 billion shekels (about 60%) have not yet been obligated and can be canceled. This data is surprising for this time of year, when usually most of the funds have already been transferred in practice. This means that these funds can be transferred to finance the demand for an increase in the defense budget instead of cutting other services to citizens. Meanwhile, since April, against the backdrop of the debate over increasing the defense budget following Operation Roar of the Lion, the government has approved a series of programs and budgets totaling hundreds of millions to billions of shekels. Among the notable programs: additions to local authorities (399 million shekels), access roads to new settlements in Judea and Samaria (378 million shekels), Jewish education in the diaspora (100 million shekels), Jewish identity (57 million shekels), budgeting for Haredi kindergarten teachers (54 million shekels), Mamilla Pool (30 million shekels), rabbinical courts (18 million shekels), and Jerusalem tourism (18 million shekels). The article reveals the gap between the demand for a defense increase and the continued funding of sectoral goals.