Questions have surfaced from recent leaks regarding whether the Finance Ministry's hold on a NIS 15 billion payment has already voided a contract between Israel and the US for Apache helicopters. An IDF spokesperson clarified to The Jerusalem Post that the deal remains active, though it could face postponement.

Back in January, the US State Department greenlit a potential $3.8 billion foreign military sale to Israel involving AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and associated gear. This approval was set to enable acquisition of 30 helicopters, starting with an initial batch of 12.

Israeli defense leaders had advocated strongly for this purchase to upgrade the air force's combat helicopter capabilities and enhance readiness against potential ground incursions like the one by Hamas on October 7, 2023.

The air force faced criticism for its performance that day, but the helicopter units stood out by delivering key firepower that helped limit Hamas incursions in the opening hours.

Despite the January progress, ministry delays have already caused missed deadlines, including one in July.

Apache Purchases Expected to Proceed Despite Postponements

Yet another deadline slipped by last Thursday.

Still, certain leaks in Hebrew media seem to inflate the fallout from these missed dates.

An IDF spokesperson noted that expectations remain for the deals to continue, simply with delays attached.

Such postponements carry costs. Following a delay, Israel and similar nations often face increased fees since any unpinned deal becomes subject to inflation that raises the final price over time.

Moreover, prior Israeli delays in acquiring additional F-15s and F-35s earlier this decade pushed Jerusalem behind other nations in the order queue. Those setbacks proved far more disruptive than the decision time alone.

If the first 12 helicopters were slated to start arriving in 2030, the new timeline could slip further beyond Israel's existing eight-month delay.

Uncertain Factors and Risks to Offensive Arms Sales

Additional unpredictable elements include whether, after US President Donald Trump's term ends in January 2029, Washington will keep approving offensive weapons sales to Israel at the desired pace.

On Thursday, Zamir criticized the ministry for what he described as politicized and needless clashes over budget and related financial matters.

An IDF spokesperson outlined three points of contention between the IDF and the ministry.

First, the IDF maintains that the ministry should have transferred NIS 15 billion weeks ago under a prior agreement, but the funds remain held up.

Second, another NIS 25 billion is due soon, yet the IDF now fears this amount could face similar delays.

Third, the parties remain deadlocked not only on already agreed funding but also on future multi-year budget talks.

Current projections place the IDF defense budget at up to NIS 160 billion annually, roughly double the pre-October 7 level.

The spokesperson stressed that the NIS 40 billion in dispute forms part of the already approved NIS 160 billion total and does not involve new funding requests.

The ministry countered that the IDF must exercise greater care in managing its expanded budget.

In prior exchanges, the ministry has pointed to instances of waste, lax oversight in spending areas, and occasional unchecked fraud within the IDF.

The IDF has admitted to some past shortcomings in these areas but emphasized that nearly three straight years of conflict mean its larger budget must be assessed against ongoing multi-front demands rather than historical norms.