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Mandelblit's puzzling decision: money for the public - no, for the army - yes

When Netanyahu asked for an economic plan to deal with Corona, the attorney general objected to this on a variety of grounds.

Billions for military procurement, however, were approved without reservation.

Avichai Snir wonders - why?

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• Avichai Mandelblit

• Benjamin Netanyahu

• Corona

Avichai Snir

Friday, 12 February 2021, 00:12

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Avichai Mandelblit (Photo: Shlomi Gabay)

A few weeks ago, when Netanyahu presented his economic plan to help the economy, the attorney general expressed strong opposition.

So, the adviser argued that there are several reasons why the prime minister is unable to pass an economic plan at this time.

First of all, do not do things that might look like an election bribe.

Second, the current government is a transitional government, and there is reason to be flawed in making decisions that will sandal the next government.

Third, the current government has failed to pass a budget, and a government without a budget has no right to set priorities.

At the time, I thought the attorney general was right.

But it turns out that I was wrong, and that the one who was right was actually the prime minister.

Because this week I learned that when the councilor wants, the government can do anything.

The event that convinced me of my mistake took place this week.

The Ministry of Defense requested permission to spend NIS 2.5 billion beyond what was approved for it.

Since the government does not have the money to do this, the Ministry of Defense used the trick.

A few years ago, when the Air Force wanted to buy F-35s, there was no money available.

So the Department of Defense took out a loan from a U.S. bank, and promised to repay the money from U.S. Security Assistance funds by 2022-2026.

Although it was not a proper move, he received approval, and the planes flew.

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But now, when it's time for O-To-To to repay the loan, the military has revealed that it wants to buy more things.

So the military asked to defer repayment of the loan in five years.

This means that the interest on the debt will increase by almost a billion shekels, and the money will be paid by the taxpayers.

Worse: As of today, there is still no summary of US security aid after 2026. If US aid is cut, which is not impossible when US debt is already approaching 125% of GDP and continues to grow, the money will have to come from the public.

But the Ministry of Defense was not thrilled that if the government approved their request, it might be necessary to cut about NIS 8 billion in education and welfare budgets in the coming years.

There is only one constant - the one who pays is us

I guess if they ask the Attorney General why he authorized the Prime Minister to transfer funds to the army but not to the public, he will argue that it is because despite the budgetary difficulties the state is in

At a cabinet hearing, the attorney general was supposed to tell the defense ministry that there was no way the government would approve it.

If the prime minister is not allowed to transfer money to the public before the election, he is also not allowed to transfer money to be photographed as a seal on the purchase of planes for the IDF. For the sake of security. But the attorney general approved the transfer of funds without any significant reservation.

I guess if the attorney general is asked why he authorized the prime minister to transfer funds to the military but not to the public, he will argue that because of the state's budgetary difficulties, security needs do not disappear even if we are in an election period. I understand that, but just three weeks ago the Prime Minister claimed that he wanted to deliver a package of assistance to the public because of the difficulties of the people do not disappear just because we are in an election period, and the attorney claimed not to transfer the money.

So maybe I have a problem, but I have a hard time seeing the differences between the cases. If a transitional government without a budget is not allowed to transfer money to the public, it is also not allowed to transfer money to the army. If it is allowed to transfer money to the army ,

So there is probably only one thing that always exists.

In the end, the one who pays, is us.

Dr. Avichai Snir - Netanya Academy and Bar-Ilan University

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