Treasury Says NIS 15 Billion Defense Transfer Is With Knesset Committee

Finance Ministry officials said an agreed NIS 15 billion defense transfer was submitted to the Knesset on August 2 and has remained with the Finance Committee since then, disputing defense officials’ claim that Treasury is blocking the money. Defense officials linked the delay to shortages of Humvees and munitions and to major U.S. procurement, including Apache helicopters. Treasury said the defense budget has nearly tripled in two years and that all sums set by the state budget and later agreements were transferred. A senior official warned that additional demands could push defense spending toward one-third of total state expenditure.