Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on 5 December that Tel Aviv’s 2026 defense budget has been set at NIS 112 billion ($34.63 billion), up from the NIS 90 billion ($23.4 billion) included in an earlier draft.

“We will continue to act decisively to reinforce the IDF and to fully address the needs of the fighters and to reduce the burden on reservists – in order to ensure the security of the State of Israel on every front,” Katz’s office added.

The Israeli government approved the 2026 budget on 5 December, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced.

The approval of the budget caused an uproar among the opposition.

“This morning, the government is approving a budget of corruption and draft-dodging. In order to fund the NIS 60 billion ($18.6 billion) cost of Haredi draft-dodging, they are raising taxes on the citizens of Israel,” said opposition leader Yair Lapid. “They didn’t even consider closing superfluous government offices, or getting rid of the corrupt coalition funds.”

The overall state budget has been set at NIS 662 billion (around $205 billion).

“We are bringing forward a balanced budget that will meet Israel’s comprehensive security needs,” Netanyahu said on Thursday ahead of the cabinet debate on the budget.

The approval of the budget comes as Israel continues to violate two ceasefire agreements.

In Gaza, deadly airstrikes have not stopped since US President Donald Trump’s ‘peace plan’ came into effect. Israeli forces have killed hundreds of Palestinians since the truce was reached in October.

“Israel may still be looking at a military option as a way of disarming Hamas and therefore is in no hurry to transition into the ceasefire’s second stage,” sources told Haaretz late last month.

Meanwhile, in Lebanon, dozens have been killed in the past two months alone. Israel has threatened to launch a new war against the country unless Hezbollah surrenders all its arms by year’s end.

Israel is also expanding its occupation in southern Syria, and is reportedly considering expanding its attacks there after a rare resistance operation wounded six Israeli soldiers. Israel’s attacks killed 13 Syrians in response to the ambush against its troops.

A report by Israel’s Channel 12, released after the truce was reached in Gaza, suggested Tel Aviv may even be considering renewing attacks on Yemen, despite the Yemeni army ending its pro-Palestine operations following the ceasefire deal.