Delay in projects and fear of cuts: IDF tense election year

The IDF is preparing for a period of uncertainty in the shadow of the political stalemate and is forced to postpone significant steps in the multi-year plan. It is estimated that if the state budget is not approved by July 2020 - the chief of staff may order a cut in training and intensification. Aircraft procurement transactions may be required for approval by the DOJ

Delay in projects and fear of cuts: IDF tense election year

Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi hoped for a last-minute change in the political mix in the State of Israel, which would lead to the formation of a government and thus the approval of the state budget. But the decision on another round of elections devoured everything and now the IDF is preparing for a very tense period.

The year 2020 is still included under the Gideon program, the multi-year military efficiency plan, which former Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon and Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon concluded - and no new agreement has been signed since then due to the political circumstances in Israel. The prospect of changing positions on the budget and approving the outline in the two weeks remaining for 2019 aspires to zero, and in light of the situation, the Ministry of Defense and the IDF entered the year for which there is no approved government budget.

As a result, the state is moving to a matching budget for 2019, linked to the index, which is estimated at NIS 403 billion. This is in spite of planning in the Ministry of Finance for a budget of NIS 420 billion, so there is actually a gap of about NIS 20 billion in the state budget. It is not only the defense establishment that is affected by the situation, and experts believe that 2020 will be challenging for all government ministries, when resource-intensive projects are not implemented.

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Hoped for a last minute change. Kochavi Chief of Staff at Northern Command Readiness Test (Photo: IDF)

November 2, 2019 (Chief of Staff Examiner) to check Northern Command readiness (Photo: IDF Spokesman)

In light of the situation, the Ministry of Finance expects the Ministry of Defense and the IDF to set priorities within the existing budget (compliant 2019) and leave an amount for the purpose of intensification by such measures as a cut in the "Chief of Staff Enlargement" (which includes pensioners budget), taxation of all permanent vehicles. They include lawyers, economists, public health doctors and more.

Due to the lack of clarity in 2019, and towards 2020, it was decided to delay the procurement of projects such as the new ground arm cannon, Eitan, Tiger, satellite and more. Also, as part of the IDF's current priorities, to approve an urgent missile acquisition deal An IDF costing hundreds of millions of shekels, the chief of staff delayed renovation stars at a divisional training base and other deals.

As a result, the Ministry of Defense will find it very difficult to sign large procurement transactions. Heads of office, who want to execute fighter jets, refueling jets, heavy transport helicopters and accurate missile procurement, will now exceptionally be required to present the Defense Ministry's requirements not only to the Treasury, but also to the Justice Department. This is so that the legal advisers can consider whether to approve the deal under a transitional government that will be bound by the elected government at the end of the third round.

IDF: An aircraft attacked an armed terrorist approaching a fence on the Gaza border

The project will be delayed. The firm's security forces (Photo: Ministry of Defense)

Gil missile fired from unmanned military vehicle of the future strongman, December 12, 2018 (Photo: Ministry of Defense)

Meanwhile, following an emergency landing last month, a Yasur-type helicopter, which led to the demolition of the heavy transport helicopters by Air Force commander Amikam Norkin, and according to estimates to initiate a new helicopter purchase deal, the IDF fears that the decision to purchase will be delayed due to the political situation.

It is important to note that aircraft purchase transactions included in the United States aid budget, which are made in dollars, often drag on them extra money in shekels since the embedded systems in them are made in Israel.

For the time being, the Treasury is sending soothing messages to the Ministry of Defense in order to find the Golden Path, in order to minimize the damage to security. However, at this stage, the IDF does not intend to compensate the IDF for the cost of arms during the war or fighting rounds in the past year, as officials say are enshrined in the Ya'alon-Kahlon agreement, except in cases where exceptional events such as a robust 51-day operation occur.

Alignment was disabled, and procurement business delayed. Crash helicopter crash (Photo: Yanir Yagna)

Military helicopter helicopter landed in an emergency landing in the open areas of Kibbutz Ruhama, near the Kama house, November 26, 2019 (Photo: Yanir Yagna)

In addition, in 2020, the Treasury is expected to grant an additional NIS 375 million under the agreement between Ya'alon and Kahlon, but this is offset by the cut in all government ministries. Therefore, according to security officials, if the state budget is not approved by July 2020, and subject to a multi-year plan for the IDF, the General Staff may order a sharp cut in training, reserve days, and direct damage to the increase.

As of last month, Kochavi Chief of Staff has been forced to reject all of its significant plans under the multi-year program "Swing" under the Threats Map of Israel, thus maintaining only the infrastructure for the program that includes the establishment of a Digital Transformation Manager, a unitary unit, a Chief of Staff, Reality training in battle and more.