Israel’s armed forces have alerted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration that the current defence posture on three key fronts cannot be sustained without a substantial increase in the state budget, according to a report by Israeli Army Radio. The warning centres on the financial strain of keeping operational security lines in place across the Gaza Strip, the occupied West Bank and the border with Lebanon.
The three zones identified by the military represent the primary areas where Israel maintains a continuous security presence. In Gaza, the army monitors a densely populated enclave that has been the scene of repeated hostilities. The occupied West Bank, home to a large Palestinian population, also requires a persistent security infrastructure. The northern frontier with Lebanon remains a strategic concern due to the presence of armed groups and the potential for cross‑border escalation.
Doron Kadosh, a correspondent for the army’s radio service, indicated that senior defence officials are preparing a detailed budgetary assessment for the political leadership. The analysis is expected to reveal a shortfall of roughly 25 billion shekels, equivalent to about 8.3 billion US dollars, in the defence budget needed to preserve the existing security arrangements on the three fronts.
The forthcoming estimate will be submitted to the cabinet for consideration, highlighting the fiscal challenge of balancing security requirements with broader economic pressures. While the report does not specify the government’s response, the military’s briefing underscores the urgency of addressing the identified funding gap if Israel intends to keep its current level of operational readiness across the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and the Lebanese border.
Reporting attribution: based on reporting by Middle East Eye — original source: https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/report-israels-security-lines-cannot-be-maintained-amid-financial-crisis.