Senior officer: IDF in need of additional NIS 7 billion

The IDF is in need of an additional NIS 7 billion (about $1.8 billion) in order to achieve its goals, the army's Strategic Planning Division head told the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Monday.

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Brigadier-General Guy Tzur said the army's "maneuverability" has been severely hurt by the "amount of anti-tank missiles in the enemy's possession," adding that a "huge financial investment is required to improve the army's defense capabilities and to develop cyber capabilities."

Earlier Sunday, Defense Minister Ehud Barak told the committee "it is the defense establishment's responsibility and obligation to be prepared for any development.

"Even those who are not defense experts understand that resources are needed to provide a response to regional challenges," he said, hinting that the IDF's budget should be increased.

Despite the defense establishment's demand for a budget increase, Professor Manuel Trachtenberg said the defense budget should be cut in order to implement reforms in the education system, as recommended by the government-appointed committee he heads.

"Some NIS 3 billion (about $790 million) can be cut from the defense budget without hurting the security establishment's ability to complete its important tasks," he claimed.

Last month the Joint Committee for the Defense Budget approved a NIS 1.65 billion $430 million) increase to the defense budget.

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