The Knesset Finance Committee on Monday 20 Teves 5774 approved a 3.27 billion NIS increase to the defense budget, this after making certain that the move would not infringe on the budgets of the health and welfare ministries.

The committee also gave the green light for the transfer to the IDF of an additional 1.8 billion NIS in surplus funds from the annual American defense aid, left over from 2012.

The budget increase is comprised of 2.79 billion NIS which were added to the defense budget in accordance with the decision of the Ministerial Committee on National Security Affairs, and 300 million NIS which are meant to fund the IDF’s withdrawal from bases in the center of the country. The Finance Committee also approved transfers of 90 million NIS, 50 million NIS, and 40 million NIS for specific projects which will be detailed when the committee responsible for the defense budget meets.

”I was provided with explanations regarding the need for these budgets, which I will share in full with the members of the (joint subcommittee for the defense budget),” Finance Committee Chairman Nissan Slomiansky (Bayit HaYehudi) said.

”I have approved this addition after the Finance Ministry has met my demands to present the committee with health and welfare budget increases.”

Treasury officials told the committee that the increase to the health and welfare budgets would be financed with surpluses from Bituach Leumi budget.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)