Defense Minister Katz Cancels Meeting With Opposition Leader Lapid

Defense Minister Israel Katz canceled a scheduled meeting with Opposition Leader Yair Lapid following Lapid's insistence that budgetary sources for military funding be clarified and that senior financial officials participate in the talks.

According to N12 reports, Lapid demanded the presence of the IDF Chief of Staff's economic advisor and the Ministry of Defense Budget Department head to ensure transparency. Lapid maintained that any opposition support for transferring significant funds to the military during the election period is contingent upon canceling coalition funds directed to ultra-Orthodox factions rather than increasing taxes on the middle class and reservists.

The Likud party strongly rejected Lapid's positions, labeling his statements as misleading and false. Officials in the ruling party asserted that state revenues exceeded projections due to government economic policies, keeping the national deficit lower than expected and allowing for defense budget expansions without tax hikes.