From the Liveblog of
Sunday, March 22, 2026
Lapid cheers on war, but slams government for spending on special interests
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSam Sokol is a former political correspondent at The Times of Israel. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
During a visit to the site of yesterday’s Iranian ballistic missile attack in the southern city of Arad, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid insists that Israel press the war until “all of Iran’s ballistic capabilities” are eliminated.
But Lapid also attacks the government, accusing it of funneling money to special interests instead of funding the reconstruction of a surgical ward at Beersheba’s Soroka hospital, where many of those wounded in the attack were sent for treatment.
“All the billions that the government is wasting on coalition funds should be sent to Soroka and the reconstruction of the south. This is a national priority,” Lapid says, referring to the government’s recent approval of over NIS 5 billion ($1.6 billion) in discretionary coalition funds for Haredi institutions, West Bank settlements and other party priorities in the 2026 state budget.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced in November that Soroka will receive public and private funds totaling over NIS 1 billion ($307,375,000) to help it rebuild.
The Times of Israel Community.