Updated

Israel's government approved roughly NIS 2.5-2.6 billion ($800-840 million) in across-the-board cuts to civilian ministries, including education, transportation, health and welfare, to fund urgent defense purchases announced on October 18. The decision still requires Knesset committee approval and follows a separate 15 billion-shekel defense budget increase approved last month. Opposition figures criticized the plan for leaving coalition funds untouched while cutting roughly 4.9% from each affected ministry's budget, raising concerns about the move's timing just over a week before the October 27 election.