Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on November 6, 2021

After over three years, Israels Knesset finally passed a budget, averting the possibility of immediate early elections and allowing the IDF to finally have enough funds to prepare itself for a confrontation with Iran.

The NIS 609 billion ($194 b.) budget for 2021 is the first one Israel has passed since 2018, and Israels defense establishment will receive NIS 58 b, an increase of NIS 7 b.

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Israel considers Irans nuclear program as the number one concern. IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kohavi has publicly said that the military is preparing fresh operational plans for a potential military strike against Tehran.

US President Joe Bidens administration has said it is still seeking a joint US-Iranian return to compliance with the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. On Wednesday, Irans chief negotiator Ali Baqeri Kani said that Tehran had agreed to meet in Vienna to restart negotiations on 29 November.

Even so, prior to the passing of the budget, Defense Minister Benny Gantz said Tuesday that it will allow Israel to develop new capabilities, operational plans and technologies to take on all threats we face.

Gantz, who was speaking during the laying of the cornerstone for Elbit Systems new technological campus at Ramat Beka in the Negev Desert, said that what is being developed by Israeli defense industries will assist the IDF in becoming more accurate, powerful and lethal.

This power is especially necessary during these days when our enemies, under Iranian leadership, are trying to grow stronger and to undermine regional stability, he said.

With tensions continuing to rise with Iran, Gantz noted that Israels defense establishment is committed to safeguarding a strong, stable, fortified Israel and ensuring that Iran does not develop an existential threat to Israel. We will continue to act with responsibility and to safeguard our independence of action in any place and sector, and secure Israeli citizens."

In order to move central aspects of Kohavi's Momentum multi-year plan forward, the military had to divert funds, carry out internal cuts and make changes in priorities. Changes in force design also saved the military funds and strengthened units with more assets.

According to reports, the budget increase would go toward purchasing various types of manned aircraft, intelligence-gathering drones and unique munitions needed for a possible attack against Irans nuclear program, which would target numerous heavily fortified underground sites.

In October, Gantz defended the defense budget increase, saying that the lack of a budget has to a certain extent damaged our ability to act, and our ability to have efficient communication and build up our forces in a more effective way.

Israel, he said, is challenged militarily on many fronts, and therefore there is great importance to approving a defense budget.

The rest is here:

Israel finally has a budget, and so does the IDF - analysis - The Jerusalem Post

Category: Israel
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