By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close
SvennoJ on 05 December 2025
Edit Thread

Israel sets 2026 defence budget at $34bn despite ceasefire in Gaza

Israel’s defence budget for next year has been set at 112 billion shekels ($34.7bn), the defence minister’s office says, up from 90 billion shekels ($28bn) budgeted in an earlier draft.

Defense Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich agreed on the defence spending framework as the cabinet began debating next year’s budget, which needs to be approved by March or could lead to new elections.

Katz said the military will continue to address the needs of its fighters and reduce the burden on reservists. Smotrich’s office said the 2026 defence budget has seen an increase of 47 billion shekels ($14.5bn) compared with 2023 on the eve of the war.

The genocidal war on Gaza and attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon cost Israel $31bn in 2024.

Israel already had the highest military budget per capita in 2023, above the USA.

Trump is asking for a total near 1 trillion for 2026 defense budget, about $2,900 per person.
Israel with 34.7 Billion will be at $3,336 per person.

In comparison Russia was at 145 Billion for 2025, just over $1000 per person.
Estimates for China for 2024 were up to 471 billion (though official numbers are much lower) which is only $330 per person.

German opposition party slams Chancellor Merz’s visit to Israel

German opposition party, Die Linke (The Left), has criticised Chancellor Friedrich Merz for his planned trip to Israel this weekend, where he will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“Merz’s trip to Israel is a declaration of war on international law. He is meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu even though there is an international arrest warrant against him for alleged war crimes. A meeting with an alleged war criminal is not a normal state visit,” said Left Party co-chair Jan van Aken.

He added that the resumption of German arms deliveries to Israel, which were suspended in August, was “a political scandal”. Van Aken explained that no weapons should be delivered as long as Israel does not publicly support a separate Palestinian state.



Green Party urges UK to join other countries in Eurovision boycott

The Green Party in the UK has urged the British government to “follow in the footsteps of Ireland, Spain, Slovenia and the Netherlands” in boycotting the European singing contest.

“The world’s largest live music event cannot be used to whitewash Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza,” the Greens said in a social media post.

Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain said yesterday that they would boycott next year’s Eurovision competition, following a decision to allow Israel to compete.

Critics have called for Israel to be barred from the contest over its genocidal war on Gaza, as well as accusations that the Israeli government unfairly intervened in the most recent competition to the benefit of its entrant.