As part of a plan to streamline Israel's military budget, the IDF has opened “The Arena,” an eBay-style website that allows for internal trading in military equipment. The site's opening on a closed IDF system was reported by Bloomberg news.
The Arena allows every IDF unit to sell unneeded equipment, and to buy excess equipment from other units. The site is the first of its kind, said Brigadier-General Maran Prozenfer.
The IDF spends approximately 20 billion shekels on equipment each year. Senior staff hope the new website will help the army avoid duplication.
So far, several million shekels' worth of inventory has been listed on the site. Units are currently selling items not related to combat, such as office supplies or appliances, but those behind the new site plan to add weapons sales as well in the future.
Excess non-combat items that are not sold between units will be sold to the general public via a Defense Ministry website.
The IDF is also offering a reward of 3,000 shekels to soldiers who come up with cost-cutting ideas.