Bank Hapoalim CEO: Defense Budget Control Key Challenge for Next Government

Bank Hapoalim CEO Yadin Antebi told EY’s annual real estate conference that control over the defense budget will be the central challenge facing Israel’s next government when it prepares the budget. Antebi said the size of that budget will very much determine the standard of living of the Israeli public in the coming years.

He noted that the economy entered the war on October 7 from a strong position marked by low unemployment, low inflation and low leverage in both private and public sectors, and that activity returned to near normal functioning within two or three months.

The bank chief added that Israel’s current macroeconomic picture appears less favorable than it did at the start of Operation Roaring Lion. He said Bank Hapoalim’s more than 100-year history gives it perspective on sector cycles and that specific loan-loss provisions have stayed at very low levels for several quarters.

Antebi said infrastructure projects such as public transportation, trains and bridges will move forward regardless of which government holds power over the next 25 years.

He also said dozens of data centers will be built in Israel in the coming years and described as “amazing” the number of entrepreneurs approaching the bank to establish new hotels. Clara Zwergel, head of the real estate sector in Bank Hapoalim’s Corporate Division, said companies are returning to physical offices after the COVID-19 pandemic.

She called on authorities to advance the conversion of older office buildings into residential buildings to meet green standards.

The conference was held in cooperation with Steinmetz, Gurman, Erdman & Co. @Jerusalem_Post reported the remarks in an article published July 2, 2026 at 00:39.