Israeli Defense Minister: We need $5 billion boost to prevent next war

Israeli Minister of Defense Avigdor Liberman says growing problems require a nearly $5 billion boost to security budget.  

By: World Israel News Staff

Israeli Minister of Defense Avigdor Liberman has called for a significant boost to his ministry’s budget in light of a major shift in Israel’s defense necessities.

The ministry is seeking another NIS 4.8 billion that would be paid out over the course of three years to contend with a “dramatic change” in the threats Israel is now facing in the region.

According to Liberman,“There is a fundamental change in the security situation in the region which requires an increase in the defense budget.” Liberman added,  “Our primary goal is to prevent the next war.”

Russia’s growing military presence in the area, and specifically in Syria, the introduction of a precision weapons threat, and Iran’s dramatic military buildup are part of the “major” changes Liberman listed in his request for more funding.

The Ministry of Defense in 2015 signed a five-year budget plan, but Liberman says that these new threats and other were not taken into consideration when the budget was formulated.

He noted that Israel’s defense establishment has already exceeded the 2015 budget by NIS 1.8 billion in investment in new projects that were not included in the 2015 budget.

Liberman concluded by saying,“the IDF will deal with every challenge under any circumstance.”