Welfare Ministry Reportedly Seeks Exemption From Planned NIS 140 Million Cut

The Welfare and Social Affairs Ministry reportedly sent an urgent appeal to the Finance Ministry on Thursday evening, asking to be excluded from a proposed government-wide budget reduction. A senior ministry official warned that the roughly NIS 140 million reduction expected for welfare could damage essential services for vulnerable people. The services at risk include planned support for women facing violence and people with disabilities. The wider proposal would remove approximately NIS 2.6 billion from ministry budgets to finance urgent defense procurement. The cut remains a proposal, with no approval or implementation reported.