Posted on 07/18/2010 11:04:06 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
The cabinet passed the draft budget for 2011 and 2012 and the Economic Arrangements Law by a large majority on Friday afternoon, after 18 hours of debate that started Thursday evening.
Twenty ministers from Likud, Labor and Habayit Hayehudi voted in favor. The five Israel Beiteinu ministers objected, the four Shas ministers abstained, and one Labor minister, Isaac Herzog, was absent.
The most contentious portion of the nation’s second two-year budget involved defense − the Finance Ministry fought bitterly to decrease defense spending, while the Defense Ministry pushed for an increase.
Ultimately, the matter was put on the table of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who decided to cut the defense budget by NIS 2.7 billion over the next two years. Defense had sought a NIS 6.76 billion increase.
Netanyahu also made a decision on another contentious matter − retirement age for non-combat career soldiers will be gradually increased to 50, up from the current 45. The move is expected to save NIS 600 million over the next two years.
The Finance Ministry had demanded the retirement age be raised to between 52 and 57, and that the defense budget be cut by NIS 4.2 billion.
(Excerpt) Read more at haaretz.com ...
Gee,war cost money and it’s a waste to begin with.I wish the us could learn this lesson.
I believe we should maximize our military as much as possible.
We have plenty of weapons and #2 we can’t AFFORD more weapons.PERIOD
The defense industry provides jobs.
That money, in the hand of taxpayers, would produce more jobs, more wealth.
The real question is: is the military able to do everything it is required to do, both now and with an eye to the future?
I submit that it is: the current issues with the US military are not ones of underfunding, but of restrictive ROE in combat zones and leftist agenda infiltration (e.g. DADT). And of course having a CIC who prays to Mecca.
If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
..................
Israel’s supply of ordiance is very shallow, actually.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.