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Monday, July 19, 2010     GET REAL

Israel plans $700 million cut in defense spending

JERUSALEM — Israel's government has decided to slash the defense budget.

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The Cabinet voted to cut the budget of the Defense Ministry by 2.7 billion shekel, or $700 million, over the next two years. The defense cut was approved in a 20-5 vote as part of a two-year overall state budget that would reach $70 billion in 2012, Middle East Newsline reported.

"Naturally, we can't meet every need, even though many are legitimate and important, but a leader's job is to weigh priorities and make decisions," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on July 16.


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Officials said the defense cut would affect military manpower and benefits. They said Netanyahu agreed to reduce the proposed cut from the initial $780 million, or three billion shekel.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak said he accepted the military budget cut. Barak said such a move was required amid the strain of the global credit decline. Over the last year, Israel has maintained a budget of about $10 billion.

On the eve of the cut, the military warned of the repercussions of a budget reduction on staffing, particularly the retention of mid- and senior officers. But officials said the cut would not threaten major weapons programs amid preparations for conflict with Hamas, Hizbullah and Syria.



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