Israel's parliament is set to vote on the 2026 state budget, which includes a major increase in military spending as the country fights wars on multiple fronts. The proposed defense allocation will rise by more than 10 billion dollars, exceeding 45 billion dollars, more than double the amount assigned before the Gaza war began in 2023. The total national budget stands at approximately 245 billion dollars. If lawmakers fail to pass the budget by the end of March, the government will automatically fall, triggering new elections.

The increased military spending comes as Israel continues its conflict with Iran, alongside the United States, and confronts Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The government has already approved hundreds of millions of dollars in emergency military purchases tied to the ongoing fighting. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich described the budget as a 'historic turning point' that would strengthen national security and reshape the region.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid sharply criticized the proposal, calling it 'the greatest theft in the state's history' and accusing the coalition of directing billions toward political allies and groups exempt from military service. The budget includes across the board cuts of three percent to most ministries, while increasing funds for ultra Orthodox schools and maintaining settlement funding in the occupied West Bank. Advocacy groups and opposition figures argue the plan prioritizes political survival over broader public needs.