Israel must spend more on defense - and rethink its US alliance - opinion
Israel needs an independent defense-industrial base and must reshape its security relationship.
Over the coming month, the Knesset will vote on expanding Israel's defense budget from NIS 70 billion to NIS 90 billion, an increase of $20 billion to $25 billion. This will raise the annual defense budget to NIS 184 billion, or about $61 billion. Israel's military buildup plan has grown by approximately NIS 50 billion ($17 billion) in just one year, and it is expected to double over the next decade.
There is currently no identified full funding source for these massive defense expenses, and Israel will likely have to cut budgets of other ministries and impose new taxes to make up the shortfall. The war with Iran and its proxies is ongoing, with 2027 anticipated to be another year of military conflict on multiple fronts, including against Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. Additionally, Turkey poses a threat to Israel on its eastern border, while the situation in the West Bank remains unsettled.
Israel must transition towards a more independent military industrial posture to hedge against embargoes, such as the one imposed by the Biden administration on the delivery of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel in 2024. The country is investing heavily in indigenous production, including projects with Elbit, Rafael, IAI, and Israel Shipyards. Israel's defense spending has risen to 8.8% of its GDP, the second-highest in the world, and it continues to prioritize diversifying its procurement sources.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
