After nearly three years of war, Israel remains in a state of ongoing emergency rather than returning to routine. Even during periods when the intensity of fighting eases, security uncertainty, evacuation, repeated rounds of reserve-duty call-ups, and the absence of a political horizon continue to shape civilian life and budgetary priorities. Alongside this, a civil struggle over the boundaries of democracy is underway. Within this reality, the socioeconomic question is pushed to the margins — precisely at a time when the need for strong public services and broad economic security has become more urgent.

The October war of 2023 led to a sharp increase in the need for mental health services on the part of the general population and especially for specific groups within it, among them persons injured by the Hammas attack or dislocated as a result of that attack and the subsequent war, families whose homes were damaged from rocket fire and soldiers suffering from post-trauma. The widespread distress occurred at a time when Israel’s public mental health services had been suffering for years from a chronic shortage of personnel, unfilled positions and, as a result, the general inaccessability of public mental health services.

While the fighting continues with no clear endgame, it dictates Israel’s political and social agenda. It is said that the war is a great leveler; however, the production of weaponry is not: a good portion of the millionaires and billionaires that made their fortunes in Israel in the course of the last two or three decades did so by producing arms based on hi-tech.

The human suffering caused by the present war is unprecedented in Israel’s war history. Against this background, the 2025 budget proposal promises Israelis numerous “dark years” — years without a social agenda.

Israel’s chances of reaching the higher echelons of OECD social and economic scales will grow dimmer and dimmer year by year, as the hostilities continue and the military budget maintains its first-priority status.

Budget cuts in the Employment Program for Arab women and men will result in perpetuating the gaps between Jews and Arabs; they also augur damage to the Israeli economy, especially in light of the reduction in the employment of Arabs since the outbreak of war.

While the Knesset prepares to pass the national budget for 2024, the question of a rising defense budget and dwindling funds for social services are at the top of the agenda.

The 15% budget cut in the 5-year plan is liable to negate the progress made to date and to increase the level of violence in Arab society.This is a decisive moment in Israel’s responsibility for Palestinian society – and for Israel as a whole.

Israel’s national budget for 2024 indicates a “day after” with more warfare, less welfare and less equity.

The term “Gaza Envelope” came into usage 20 years ago. The area was all but abandoned in the recent state budget: the per capita amount approved for 2023 and 2024 was lower by 31% than that of 2022