Barak, Steinitz clash over defense budget
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A loud dispute broke out between Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz at a meeting on cutting the State's defense budget. Barak told Steinitz his dealing with the age of retirement from the IDF was "trivial". The finance minister responded saying he was seeking to economize, and said, "The recommendation on the age of retirement is the result of the report of Brig.-Gen. Malka and not of Sergeant Yuval Steinitz."
The meeting on the budget is slated to last deep into the night, due to a disagreement on the demand to cut NIS 3 billion from the defense budget. (Roni Sofer)
