Baram Warns IDF Force Buildup Is Behind Schedule

Defense Ministry Director General Amir Baram warned at the Herzliya Conference that Israel's long-term force buildup is dangerously behind schedule and that continued foot-dragging could make security preparedness risk extremely high. Times of Israel reports Baram said emergency measures are growing Arrow, David's Sling and Iron Dome interceptor stocks even during fighting, but the work is not finished. JFeed and Hebrew Kula report he linked the delay to budget bureaucracy around a roughly NIS 350 billion decade-long plan already approved by Netanyahu and Katz, while Iran could invest comparable sums in the second half of 2026. Israel needs faster procurement and domestic production so battlefield gains become durable deterrence.