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IDF Disabled Veterans Org. warns of 'national disaster' amid exclusion in defense budget

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • The IDF Disabled Veterans Organization warned of a "national disaster" over the exclusion of increased funding for disabled veterans in the 2026 defense budget.
  • The Finance Ministry rejected the Defense Ministry's request for an additional NIS 40 billion, citing concerns about fiscal credibility and deficit.
  • The organization accused Prime Minister Netanyahu and Finance Minister Smotrich of abandoning those who sacrificed for Israel and reneged on promises.

The IDF Disabled Veterans Organization has issued a stark warning of a "national disaster" following the agreement on a 2026 defense budget that reportedly excludes increased funding for the rehabilitation and treatment of disabled veterans. The organization directly accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich of abandoning "the future of those who sacrificed their bodies and souls in battle for the State of Israel."

abandoning the future of those who sacrificed their bodies and souls in battle for the State of Israel

— IDF Disabled Veterans OrganizationFollowing the agreement on a new defense budget.

The dispute centered on the Defense Ministry's request for a budget of NIS 183-188 billion, citing "unprecedented investments" needed due to growing threats, particularly from Iran. However, the Finance Ministry rejected petitions to increase spending by NIS 40 billion, expressing concerns that such a move would harm Israel's "fiscal credibility" in international markets and widen the national deficit.

There is no longer an open check and any number wins. We are not breaking the 2026 frameworks, and there will be no horizontal cuts in the ministries' budgets

— Defense Ministry officialsResponding to the budget dispute.

Defense Ministry officials stated that the budget would adhere to 2026 frameworks without horizontal cuts. The IDF Disabled Veterans Organization, however, condemned the decision as a betrayal of promises made to wounded IDF and security forces. "It is impossible to send our best sons and daughters to fight, guarantee them proper rehabilitation, and then withdraw at the moment of truth," the organization declared.

It is impossible to send our best sons and daughters to fight, guarantee them proper rehabilitation, and then withdraw at the moment of truth

— IDF Disabled Veterans OrganizationCommenting on the budget decision.

The organization also emphasized the importance of approving recommendations from the Mor Yosef Committee, a panel of experts focused on trauma and rehabilitation care for wounded soldiers and security personnel. They vowed to continue fighting to ensure the state meets its critical obligations to its fighters, stating, "The bloodshed on the battlefield must not be in vain."

The bloodshed on the battlefield must not be in vain. The IDF Disabled Veterans Organization will not stand by and fight for the State of Israel to meet its critical obligations to its fighters

— IDF Disabled Veterans OrganizationConcluding their statement on the budget.
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Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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