The Air Force attacked a tunnel used by Hamas in the Gaza Strip/IDF spokesman
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich today vetoed the convening of the committee that must approve the purchase of two new fighter squadrons at a cost of NIS 35 billion, and this in the middle of the war. The same Smotrich who acted feverishly and without restraint in transferring coalition funds without recognition and regardless of his public interest and responsibility.
What did Smotrich say in the letter? As part of the summaries on the budget, it was determined that a public committee would be established for the issue of the defense budget and it would submit its recommendations. Smotrich claims that the security establishment consistently thwarts the establishment of the committee, and now seeks to establish facts on the ground by ordering the squadrons for the astronomical amount.
"With all due respect, this kind of conduct is not allowed. The expectation of the security system to receive an open shake in huge amounts and with enormous consequences for the economy and the economy and the quality of life of the citizens of Israel without critical thinking, brainstorming, professional, public and governmental discussion, is neither legitimate nor realistic. Always, and in particular After the failure of October 7, what preceded it," he wrote, vetoing the committee's meeting.
Smotrich. The security establishment consistently thwarts the establishment of the committee/Flash 90, Avshalom Shoshani
We recently heard consistent messages on the subject from another, very senior financial figure. "Despite the urgent needs of the short term, it is important for the government to decide as soon as possible the size of the defense budget and the scope of the desired manpower in the long term, while balancing the security needs, on the one hand, and the budgetary and indirect costs of the increase in defense spending that will be imposed on the Israeli economy, on the other hand," reads the document. H. The Bank of Israel's summary for 2023, signed by the Governor of the Bank of Israel, Prof. Amir Yaron.
The report, published yesterday, was submitted last Thursday to the Prime Minister and the President of the State. "Regarding the defense budget - we of course need to adapt it to the needs discovered in this war, which also exist in the world. We need to be much more independent in the production capacity of the weapons we need," rejected the criticism, or the friendly but binding proposal, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu .
So what is the difference between the demand of the governor of the Bank of Israel for the establishment of a public committee to determine the level of the price of security, with an understanding of the great economic implications that will apply to all of us - from damage to services, through extension of service to raising taxes, and the scorn of Smotrich, who accuses - and rightly so this time - The security system that thwarts any possibility of a real public debate on the level of the budget?
"In a joint summary that you led with the ministries of finance and defense regarding the 2024 budget, it was determined that for this purpose a public committee will be established that will submit its recommendations in about two months. Since the aforementioned summary, the defense establishment has prevented the establishment of the committee and seeks to establish facts on the ground and oblige huge budget volumes, among other things in the aforementioned aircraft procurement transactions" . The speaker here is Smotrich again, and he is right.
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Netanyahu and Yaron. Page the review / Amos Ben Gershom / L.A.M
The problem with Smotrich is not in substance this time, but in the speaker. How can one believe in the purity of the intentions of the one who pushed with all his might for the transfer of public funds to a series of unnecessary ministries even in routine but certainly during an emergency, who turned Orit Struck into the economic arm of the religious Zionist party and transferred through its Ministry of Settlement and National Missions a sum that jumped to more than 650 million shekels, And this in a time of war, can't expect anyone to think that he is beyond what he has shown until now: a low-visibility, messianic and dangerous political function.
Not much needs to be added about our expanding security needs. The battered public, some of whom are still evacuated, and most of whom are shaken by the founding event of everyone who lives here today, understands even without being explained to them.
But the security aspect is only one. It is clear that if there is none, there is nothing else either, and yet a conversation about the needs and limits should be conducted. Not only because it was decided that way, not only because it is the right way to conduct it, but because the State of Israel is currently at a series of such critical points, that one component that goes out of control - even if it is the most important - could lead to a system collapse in the not too distant future.
So apparently Smotrich is not the one to protect us and the public purse this time either. As they say, you will be surprised. And yet the defense budget is not a sacred cow, not even today. Lest we discover that the economic concept has also collapsed, it will simply be too much.
More on the same topic:
Air Force
Bezalel Smotrich
the defense budget
War of Iron Swords
Amir Yaron
Bank of Israel Governor
Gaza war