Mammoth defense spending
The Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics has just published defense-spending data going back to 1955. Oddly, spending has always peaked after wars, not before them.
The current spending of the Defense Ministry and military-related civilian ministries is estimated at $17 billion, but is closer to $20 billion if we include the numerous secret programs. By comparison, the gigantic Russian army cost less than twice as much.
$20 billion could buy Israel a very powerful army. At least, we would have no shortage of funds for high-end military purchases. Instead, we beg the US for $200 million in aid for our missile interceptors. The problem lies in Israel’s insistence on maintaining a three-year term of compulsory military service, which is completely unnecessary in the current situation, instead of building a small but highly capable force. Compared with our Arab enemies, Israeli sustaining power is negligible. We cannot wage a protracted conventional war anyway, but the government invests in precisely such an unusable army.
The Army also supports singing troupes and bands and other non defense related expenses which can be cut. Most of the troupe members are anti Israel and leftists. Israeli Army Radio can also be eliminated since they speak against the army.
This article wasn’t clear. I am not sure what you think should be changed. Could you write up your criticisms and suggestions.
Israel military budget maintains a large array of former low and mid level officers that retire at a very early age with substantaial retirement packages, well above any other state employee.
Further to that the inadequate top heavy systems require vast amounts of money to operate even on stand by.
Correctly, the writer identify the overall configuration and the corresponding manpower as being woefully innadequate to the low tech warfare we can expect coupled with massive and erratic rocket forces.
This is classical for military systems based on political officialdom.
We need to reset, reboot so to speak our government systems starting by embarking on a election of NEW cadre to form a government.
For as long as the “elites”, “18”, “300” and so on remain up there nothing will change.