Overview

• At a Finance Ministry conference in Jerusalem, Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is in "a sort of isolation" and may need an economy with autarkic characteristics.
• He warned of possible foreign curbs on weapons and parts and called for expanding domestic defense manufacturing beyond research and development.
• The Israel Business Forum and Histadrut condemned the framing, with union chief Arnon Bar-David saying society is exhausted and wants peace.
• Opposition leader Yair Lapid blamed government policy for diplomatic isolation, while former officials Gadi Eisenkot and Yair Golan urged political change.
• Reports tied a sharp Tel Aviv Stock Exchange dip to the speech alongside an IDF Gaza City operation, as Netanyahu argued economic fundamentals remain strong and said his remarks targeted potential political limits on defense imports.