Occupation Funds Arms Deals Amid Arab Concerns
Hebrew media outlets has revealed that the Israeli occupation government, headed by Benjamin Netanyahu, has made significant cuts to the funding allocated for the development of the Arab community within the 1948 occupied Palestinian territories. In 2026, the budget of the Israeli Ministry of Security reached approximately 183 billion shekels, with an unprecedented increase of 40 billion shekels due to war-related costs, accounting for more than 20% of the state budget. The majority of these funds are directed towards security and military expenditures, at the expense of vital sectors such as education, health, and social welfare, greatly harming the Arab community. Billions of shekels have been deducted from developmental plans aimed at supporting infrastructure and social sectors, with funding for the Arab community’s five-year plan (Plan 550) significantly reduced. Reports indicate a rise in programmed cuts, reflecting increasing marginalization of the Arab community and threatening to undermine development efforts and widen economic and social gaps. This comes amid Israel’s completion of purchasing 12 Apache helicopters from the United States to bolster its military capabilities, despite a budget deficit exceeding 40 billion shekels for 2026. With continued postponements, it is expected that policies will persist in cutting funding allocated to the Arab community in favor of military spending.
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