Economics
Israel Ups Defense Budget by $2.9 Billion as Iran War Rages
Rescue workers and military personnel at the site of an Iranian missile strike in Beit Shemesh, Israel, on March 1.
Photographer: Kobi Wolf/BloombergIsrael’s government announced it had pre-approved a 9 billion shekel ($2.9 billion) supplement to this year’s defense budget to fund the war with Iran.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and himself granted approval over the last few weeks as covert preparations for the joint US-Israeli military operation that began on Saturday took place.