Israeli ministers ok massive hasbara budget for campaigns, influencers in 2026

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar agreed on a budget of NIS 2.35 billion ($729 million) for Israel advocacy campaigns, as part of the 2026 budget presented on Friday.

The budget will be used for campaigns to raise awareness for Israel worldwide. The government has already authorized NIS 1 billion ($310 million).

“Alongside the budget increase, the government approved my proposal to establish a public diplomacy unit in the Foreign Affairs Ministry. Accordingly, a head of the public diplomacy unit will be appointed in the ministry, just as there is a head of the political unit. ‏The unit will coordinate the ministry’s work on the issue of publicizing,” Sa’ar said.

The budget will also be used, among other things, to fund social media campaigns, collaborate with civil society organizations, and bring delegations of leaders, elected officials, influencers, and others to Israel, the government said in a statement.

“Our enemies are investing huge sums against us in this. Israel has acted with very modest means and must now both increase resources and adopt new and up-to-date methods. The amounts approved are still modest in relation to the challenges that Israel faces in the world, but this is a significant breakthrough,” Sa’ar added.

NIS 112 billion in defense for 2026

One of the main points of the 2026 budget is a rise in defense spending, agreed between Smotrich and Defense Minister Israel Katz following negotiations. According to the draft, the final figure will be NIS 112 billion ($34.7 billion) for 2026.

Israel has spent nearly NIS 100 billion ($31 billion) in 2024 on its conflicts with Hamas and with Hezbollah in Lebanon, though ceasefire deals have been agreed upon with both terrorist groups.