During a brief visit to London, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz slammed Finance Ministry officials regarding a possible reduction of NIS1 billion in the defense budget. “The clerks there have forgotten that there is a government, and they think that they own the state,” he said.
The Israeli daily, Yediot Acharonot, reported on Sunday that the Finance Ministry has presented a cut of NIS1 billion in benefits to regular soldiers before the Knesset for approval. The cuts would mean that dozens of IDF and Defense Ministry representatives abroad would have to return to Israel. Tax benefits to vehicle owners would be slashed and “sport points” would be annulled. The number of those eligible for state funding for their university studies would be reduced, and the criteria determining the status of disabled IDF veterans would be severely limited.
“It’s a shame that the Finance Ministry chooses each time to hit the army and its regular troops, who work day and night to protect Israel. Any further cuts to the defense budget will lead to a halt in training for the regular forces,” stated Mofaz.
In response, the Finance Ministry stated that, “the state budget for 2006 will be presented before the Knesset plenum for a first reading on 31st Oct. 2005, based on government decisions from Sept. 8th, 2005 on the subject of economic policy for 2006. Along with the budget will be included changes in its structure and composition, as well as what has been agreed with the prime minister on the defense budget’s parameters and any cuts.
“From this it should be understood that any reports that the Finance Ministry is planning a further reduction to the defense budget of NIS 1 billion are groundless, and any details that have appeared in the media on this issue are neither correct nor exact. Whatever will be presented before the Knesset plenum and what the Finance Ministry is committed to are government decisions, with the prime minister’s agreement on defense budget cuts, as mentioned above.”
The Israeli daily, Yediot Acharonot, reported on Sunday that the Finance Ministry has presented a cut of NIS1 billion in benefits to regular soldiers before the Knesset for approval. The cuts would mean that dozens of IDF and Defense Ministry representatives abroad would have to return to Israel. Tax benefits to vehicle owners would be slashed and “sport points” would be annulled. The number of those eligible for state funding for their university studies would be reduced, and the criteria determining the status of disabled IDF veterans would be severely limited.
“It’s a shame that the Finance Ministry chooses each time to hit the army and its regular troops, who work day and night to protect Israel. Any further cuts to the defense budget will lead to a halt in training for the regular forces,” stated Mofaz.
In response, the Finance Ministry stated that, “the state budget for 2006 will be presented before the Knesset plenum for a first reading on 31st Oct. 2005, based on government decisions from Sept. 8th, 2005 on the subject of economic policy for 2006. Along with the budget will be included changes in its structure and composition, as well as what has been agreed with the prime minister on the defense budget’s parameters and any cuts.
“From this it should be understood that any reports that the Finance Ministry is planning a further reduction to the defense budget of NIS 1 billion are groundless, and any details that have appeared in the media on this issue are neither correct nor exact. Whatever will be presented before the Knesset plenum and what the Finance Ministry is committed to are government decisions, with the prime minister’s agreement on defense budget cuts, as mentioned above.”