JERUSALEM Ñ Israel cannot bear the mounting military and security
costs of the two-year-old war against the Palestinians, a government report
said.
The report by the National Security Council asserted that the billions
of dollars allocated annually to fight the insurgency war against the
Palestinian
Authority and Islamic allies is draining the economy and undermining the
military. The council urged the government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to
reform the economy so that Israel can bear the costs of the war.
"This is the first comprehensive report of this type," outgoing National
Security Council director Uzi Dayan said on Thursday. "Security is very much
connected to economy and the economy is very much connected to security."
Israel's military budget hovers around $9 billion. More than $2 billion
of the budget is composed of U.S. military aid.
The government has submitted a request for a 3 billion shekels [$620
million] decrease in the military budget for fiscal 2003. The budget slash
was endorsed by the Cabinet after the government determined that it could no
longer sustain such high military costs and maintain economic stability.
The classified study was released as Israel is bracing for what
officials asserted was a Palestinian campaign to renew bombings in Israel.
Overnight Thursday, Israeli authorities found a car packed with 600
kilograms of explosives near the northern town of Pardes Hanna.
Authorities have declared an alert in much of northern Israel. Officials
said the alert comes from information that Palestinians are planning suicide
attacks over the Jewish New Year, which takes place over the weekend.
Israeli forces have captured several suspected Palestinian insurgents near
the West Bank city of Nablus. Officials said three Hamas fugitives were
among those detained.
The report also warned that Israel might not have the manpower to
continue the war against the Palestinians. The council said Israeli
reservists are becoming exhausted by repeated mobilizations and called for
greater use of ultra-Orthodox Jews, thousands of whom were granted either
exemptions or serve in a limited capacity.
Another recommendation was the formation of paramilitary regular units
to focus on border security and counterinsurgency, tasks that are largely
entrusted to reserve forces. The report also called for legislation to
better compensate reservists.
The report warns of a range of threats to Israel. They include that of
conventional war, unconventional war and terrorism. It called for improved
equipment and training for the reservists.
"There must be a reorganization of the reserve burden in Israel and an
expansion of the work force," Dayan said.
The Israeli study reviews government options amid the current war
against the Palestinians. Government sources said the report urges the
government to delineate borders that will prevent the entry of Palestinian
insurgents into the Jewish state. Such a delineation could be unilateral.