Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon is canceling a major homefront preparedness training exercise explaining this is due to sharp cuts to the defense budget. Ya’alon and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz on erev Shabbos 9 Iyar 5774 announced Operation Turning Point 8 would not take place due to insufficient funds.

Some feel the two are using the major annual even to pressure the treasury to allocate additional funds for defense spending. Others reject the speculation, explaining there is no longer enough money for such training events and the new budgetary realities compel canceling this and other training exercises too. Some experts warn that if this really is the case it will have a major negative impact on the IDF’s future performance and preparedness.

Speaking to a Holon audience on Shabbos, Deputy Finance Minister (Yesh Atid) Mickey Levy was critical of the Defense Ministry’s announcement, adding the treasury would not be adding additional funds to the military’s budget. “The defense budget is of equal importance to the health budget. The Defense Ministry received additional funding in the beginning of the year. Additional requests will not be entertained at this time.”

Some senior treasury officials point out the Kirya Defense Ministry building is located on Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv. They explaining it is one of the most expensive land areas in the country, signaling relocating would generate sizable revenue for the ministry.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)