Knesset approves transfer of $1.1 billion to israeli military

The Israeli parliament’s Finance Committee approved the transfer of NIS 3.8 billion ($1.1 billion) to the Israeli Defence Ministry following calls over the past month for raising the defence and security budgets, Israel’s Haaretz newspaper reported.

Palestine Online news website cites a statement issued by Israel’s Finance Ministry on Wednesday, 13 August saying that the additional money allocated to the military’s budget was taken from funds that had been allocated for public and safety services like transportation, water development and distribution, and earthquake preparations.

The news website also reported that the Finance Ministry would immediately transfer NIS 1 billion ($3.3 million) to the Defence Ministry, while the remaining funds would be pumped into the military budget in the coming years.

The Knesset’s Finance Committee approved an increase in Israel’s security and military budgets after having rejected an earlier budget request by Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon several months ago. Haaretz reported that the committee debate was heated, with one MK being forcefully removed, but due to the current Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip, the funds were eventually approved by a margin of three votes.

Israeli radio reportedly broadcast a statement several days ago saying that the Defence Ministry had called for an NIS 8 billion ($2.2 million) raise as compensation for the losses in “Operation Protect Edge”, which was launched on 8 July, as well as NIS 11 billion ($3.1 million) in addition to the ministry’s $15 billion annual budget.

On several occasions over the past three months, Ya’alon asked for a halt of ground, marine and air military sorties because the ministry’s budget request had not been approved.