Defense Minister Ehud Barak saidduring Sunday’s cabinet meeting on the 2008 State Budget that the proposed NIS 500 million ($116 million) cut in funds allocated toward the construction of the security fence would “further delay its completion”.
He said the Defense Ministry was missing between NIS 400 - 500 million ($93-116 million) to fully implement the IDF Reserves Law.
“The budget cut would force the security establishment to make tough choices as far as the purchase of equipment is concerned,” Barak said, but added that “as defense minister I accept the painful cuts in the framework of the government’s overall responsibility.”
Meanwhile, Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter withdrew his objection to the proposed 2008 State Budget after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Finance Minister Ronnie Bar-On agreed that some NIS 500 million ($118 million) would be transferred to Israel Police and the Israel Prisons Authority.
“This will greatly improve the personal security of every citizen in Israel,” Dichter said.
During the cabinet meeting the minister said that “not increasing Israel Police’sbudget would force the closure of police stations and hinder the war on road accidents.
“I don’t understand what else has to happen in Israel for the government to understand that the Internal Ministry’s budget must be increased,” Dichter said.
First published: 17:15, 08.12.7