The Israel Defense Forcesresponded, Sunday evening, tothe cabinet's decisionon across-the-board cutsin government offices to pay for compulsory education by saying,"The Israeli government is the one who decides on theamount of resourcesthatit choosesto provide for security needs. The IDFwill present thestrategicimplications of [the budget cuts on] building the force and its operationto the political levelandwill continue todo everything within its power to protectthe security ofIsraeli citizens."
At a news conference following the cabinet vote, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the education bill, "an historic decision that changes the order of priorities. 2012 is the year of education and security. The IDF is the country's shield; therefore, we have increased its budget."