Israeli finance minister vetoes purchase of fighter jets: report

Israel's Yedioth Ahronoth reports that Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich wrote to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he is vetoing the convening of the committee supposed to approve the purchase of F-15 and F-35 fighters jets for 35 billion shekels ($9.55bn) over disagreements regarding the defence budget.

Security officials reportedly criticised Smotrich, claiming he brings politics into the "cockpit" and "forgets that we are in a multi-arena war".