DM Ya'alon says it's 'expensive' to fight terror, claims op cost IDF over NIS 9B
Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon commented on the defense budget and the cost of Operation Protective Edge Tuesday.
"The direct cost of the operation stands at more than $9 billion," the defense minister said, adding that dealing with terror is "expensive," and even if the "defense budget would be tripled it would still not be a waste of money."
He further claimed that the Iron Dome missile defense system saved Israel from taking over Gaza and allowed life in Israel to continue as normal, thus minimizing the economic cost of the war. "Each Iron Dome interceptor is $100,000. In economic terms it's worthwhile, but obviously this is still expensive."
