Israeli Parliament Approves 2026 Budget with Major Military Spending Increase

Israel's legislature passed the national budget for 2026 on Monday, allocating substantially more funds for defense purposes. The vote saw 62 members support the measure while 55 opposed it. This approval prevented an automatic dissolution of the government and the calling of early elections, which would have occurred if the budget had not been passed by the March deadline according to Israeli regulations. The total planned spending for 2026 is approximately 850 billion Israeli shekels. The increased military allocation comes as the nation continues to be involved in conflicts across several regions. The budget's passage ensures government stability and provides additional resources for defense operations amid ongoing hostilities.