3,000 Tons of Munitions from US, Europe to Israel

Israeli vehicles near Ashkelon last October 15 (AFP)
Israeli vehicles near Ashkelon last October 15 (AFP)
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3,000 Tons of Munitions from US, Europe to Israel

Israeli vehicles near Ashkelon last October 15 (AFP)
Israeli vehicles near Ashkelon last October 15 (AFP)

The Department of Production and Procurement (DOPP) at the Israeli Defense Ministry announced that last week it has purchased 3,000 tons of munitions and weapons for 6 billion shekels.

It said about half of the equipment were bought from Israeli factories, while the other half arrived from Europe and the United States on 100 cargo planes and five ships.

The Ministry affirmed that the purchases, which came to respond to Israeli needs in the event of a wider war involving Lebanon, include bombs, missiles, radars, drones, vehicles, ambulances, medical equipment and more.

The Department said that some of these purchases had already arrived and were being used.

Additionally, it noted that the Directorate of Defense Research and Development dedicated more than 3 billion shekels for research, development, and armament, covering both defensive and offensive capabilities.

In this regard, the Ministry said it has activated about 651 factories and engaged approximately 57,000 workers who received mobilization orders.

Additionally, it rented approximately 8,500 vehicles, more than 4,000 buses, and over 2,000 trucks, tractors, and heavy machinery for the Israeli military.

The DOPP also noted that the engineering department at the Israeli Army spent some 1 billion shekels to repair military bases and communities on the border that were damaged from the October 7 Hamas attack.

It bought 350,000 tons of equipment and construction materials and hired 100 construction companies to undertake the repair works.

Also, in an attempt to appease angry families over the military's failures, the Ministry’s Rehabilitation Department recognized 712 army personnel as disabled due to injuries, unlike in the past, when every case was carefully studied by a medical committee.

Also, the ministry has decided to continue to accommodate 125,000 people evacuated from almost 100 communities on the border of Lebanon and Gaza, who are staying in hotels and guest houses.

Meanwhile, Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced that they have agreed to increase the compensation pay given to reservists by 40 percent, in addition to allow a one-time grant of 1,100 shekels for those who served more than 8 days and 2,000 shekels for those who served 14 days or more. They also agreed to pay these sums on a monthly basis.

So far, the war has cost Israel 30 billion shekels, with the US Congress planning to give Israel $14.3 billion in assistance as the Israeli-Hamas war continues.



Pope Renews Appeal for Peace in Middle East

 Pope Leo XIV appears at the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican where Catholic faithful and pilgrims gathered for the traditional Sunday blessing at the end of the noon Angelus prayer, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP)
Pope Leo XIV appears at the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican where Catholic faithful and pilgrims gathered for the traditional Sunday blessing at the end of the noon Angelus prayer, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP)
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Pope Renews Appeal for Peace in Middle East

 Pope Leo XIV appears at the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican where Catholic faithful and pilgrims gathered for the traditional Sunday blessing at the end of the noon Angelus prayer, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP)
Pope Leo XIV appears at the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican where Catholic faithful and pilgrims gathered for the traditional Sunday blessing at the end of the noon Angelus prayer, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP)

Pope Leo XIV renewed his appeal for peace in the Middle East on Sunday, calling for an end to the war and reopening of dialogue.

"Dear brothers and sisters, for two weeks the peoples of the Middle East have suffered the atrocious violence of war," the US pontiff said at his weekly Angelus prayer at the Vatican.

"Thousands of innocent people have been killed, and countless others have been forced to flee their homes.

"I renew my closeness to all those who have lost loved ones in the attacks that have hit schools, hospitals, and residential areas."

Leo said the situation in Lebanon was a particular cause for concern.

"On behalf of the Christians of the Middle East and of all women and men of goodwill, I address those responsible for this conflict," he said in Italian.

"Cease fire! Let paths of dialogue be reopened!

"Violence can never lead to the justice, stability and peace that people await."


Israel Approves Emergency Military Funding as Iran War Rages

Israeli security forces check the damage to cars after a rocket strike in Holon, in the Tel Aviv District on March 15, 2026. (AFP)
Israeli security forces check the damage to cars after a rocket strike in Holon, in the Tel Aviv District on March 15, 2026. (AFP)
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Israel Approves Emergency Military Funding as Iran War Rages

Israeli security forces check the damage to cars after a rocket strike in Holon, in the Tel Aviv District on March 15, 2026. (AFP)
Israeli security forces check the damage to cars after a rocket strike in Holon, in the Tel Aviv District on March 15, 2026. (AFP)

Israel has approved an $827-million emergency budget allocation for military purchases, Israeli media reported Sunday, as the war with Iran entered its third week.

The 2.6-billion-shekel package was approved over the weekend by cabinet ministers during a telephone meeting, the daily Haaretz reported.

It will be used for "security purchases" and to address "urgent needs", it said, without providing further details.

A finance ministry document circulated to all ministers and reported by several media outlets, including Channel 12, said that "given the intensity of the fighting" the additional budget allocation was necessary.

"An urgent and immediate need has arisen to provide an operational response, including the acquisition of munitions, the procurement of advanced weapons systems and the replenishment of critical combat stocks," the document said.

The document added that the move constituted "an exceptional emergency decision intended solely to address needs arising from the conduct of the fighting".

The funds will be drawn from the state budget, totaling $222 billion and approved by the government on March 12, and expected to be adopted by the Knesset by March 31, according to the reports.

The government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not yet officially commented on the measure or specified what purchases the funds will cover.

Since the Israeli-US bombardments against Iran that began on February 28, Israel has been targeted daily by Iranian ballistic missile fire, which the military has mostly intercepted using its missile defense systems.

According to Haaretz, citing security officials, 250 ballistic missiles had been fired by Iran at Israel as of March 13.

Twelve people have been killed in Israel by missiles or falling debris since the start of the war, according to an AFP tally of figures given by Israeli authorities and first responders.


UK Says Vital to 'De-escalate' Middle East War

FILE PHOTO: An aerial view of the island of Qeshm, separated from the Iranian mainland by the Clarence Strait, in the Strait of Hormuz, December 10, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An aerial view of the island of Qeshm, separated from the Iranian mainland by the Clarence Strait, in the Strait of Hormuz, December 10, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo
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UK Says Vital to 'De-escalate' Middle East War

FILE PHOTO: An aerial view of the island of Qeshm, separated from the Iranian mainland by the Clarence Strait, in the Strait of Hormuz, December 10, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An aerial view of the island of Qeshm, separated from the Iranian mainland by the Clarence Strait, in the Strait of Hormuz, December 10, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo

A British minister on Sunday said it was essential to calm the situation in the Middle East after US President Donald Trump demanded that other nations help protect world oil supplies passing through the Strait of Hormuz. 

The "plan now has to be to de-escalate the conflict", Energy Security Minister Ed Miliband told the BBC. 

"We are talking to our allies. There are different ways in which we can make maritime shipping possible. We are intensively looking with our allies at what can be done, because it's so important that we get the strait reopened," he added, speaking to Sky News. 

A spokesperson for the defense ministry said late on Saturday: "As we've said previously, we are currently discussing with our allies and partners a range of options to ensure the security of shipping in the region."