Israel Finance Ministry Warns War Costing $3B Per Week Under Current Restrictions

Israel's Finance Ministry Director General Ilan Rom urged Home Front Command chief Maj. Gen. Shai Klapper to ease workplace restrictions, warning that current "red level" lockdown restrictions cost NIS 9.4 billion ($3 billion) weekly. Rom requested a shift to "orange alert level" to allow businesses to gradually reopen starting Thursday, which could halve the weekly economic cost to NIS 4.5 billion ($1.5 billion). The Home Front Command's current restrictions prohibit gatherings, educational activities, and most workplaces, with exceptions only for essential businesses. Industry leaders echoed the request, arguing that reopening workplaces with protected spaces would provide both economic security and psychological stability for employees.