"Silent Crisis" Within the Israeli Military: Budget Deadlock Awaiting Netanyahu's Decision

Disagreements between the Israeli military (IDF) and the Ministry of Finance over the post-war defense budget appear far from being resolved, with no direct dialogue currently taking place between the two parties. Estimates prepared for 2026 reveal a heavy security reality requiring significant reliance on reserve forces.

Projected Security Activity and Exorbitant Cost

• Security Plan: The IDF is preparing for a full year of "intensive security activity" in 2026.

• Reserve Forces: Approximately 60,000 reserve soldiers are expected to remain in service throughout the next year, meaning more than half of the fighting and supporting forces may be in reserve uniform, posing a huge financial burden.

• Direct Cost: Each day of reserve service costs the state around 1,100 shekels. Direct costs for the reserves since the start of the war have reached approximately 70 billion shekels.

• Indirect Cost: The indirect cost on the economy due to reserve call-ups is estimated at an additional 110 billion shekels.

• Corruption Suspicions: The military command is investigating the illegal use of reserve days in some units, following reports that external providers received payments equivalent to several days of service for only one day of work.

IDF Warns of Becoming a "Mid-Level Force"

All the issues are now on the desk of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is expected to hold a meeting to resolve the dispute. The military plans to present the projected expenditures (tank/plane operating hours, ammunition, increased deployment) and issue a warning about the manpower crisis, which it believes threatens to turn the IDF into a "mid-level force" if not addressed quickly.