{
  "id": 15404887,
  "title": "Gov’t approves NIS 2.5 billion for defense, slashing ministry budgets ahead of elections",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/govt-approves-nis-2-5-billion-for-defense-slashing-ministry-budgets",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-18T12:24:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-912051"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Israeli government has approved a NIS 2.5 billion allocation for urgent defense procurement, to be funded through cuts to government ministries' budgets ahead of the October 27 elections. The cuts, amounting to 4.9 percent, will impact ministries like education, health, welfare, and social affairs. Legal concerns were raised regarding the timing of the decision and the potential prioritization of party interests over public interest. The defense procurement was deemed urgent, but the reasons for the urgency and details of the security needs were classified. The Finance Ministry stated that part of the funds would be diverted from the five-year plan to develop Israel's Arab sector. Opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized the decision, arguing that defense procurement could be funded without cutting money for the poor or education. MK Oded Forer accused the government of prioritizing political interests over public interest, particularly in cutting budgets for rehabilitation, health, and welfare services in the periphery.",
  "summary": "According to the announcement, funds will be pulled from government ministries' budgets, resulting in a 4.9% cut for each ministry.",
  "key_points": [
    "Israeli government approves NIS 2.5 billion for defense procurement",
    "4.9 percent budget cuts to ministries like education and health",
    "Opposition criticizes prioritizing defense over public interests"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Times of Israel",
        "title": "Cabinet okays NIS 2.6 billion in across-the-board ministry budget cuts to fund defense",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/cabinet-okays-nis-2-6-billion-in-across-the-board-ministry-budget",
        "published": "2026-10-18T14:20:48.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}