Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has pledged to take on major banks and retail chains ahead of the cabinet vote on the 2026 state budget. Smotrich accused banks and monopolies of exploiting high interest rates and the ongoing war to generate huge profits at the expense of Israeli citizens. He vowed to introduce reforms that would increase competition in the banking sector, lower taxes, and reduce the cost of living for basic goods such as clothing and food. Smotrich emphasized that these reforms are essential to the upcoming budget and warned that he would oppose the budget if his proposals are not included, setting up a potential clash with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over defense spending priorities.