The reduction in the 2001 defense budget favored by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak will hamper strategic upgrade efforts designed to defuse threats posed by Iranian and Iraqi missiles and weapons of mass destruction, an official was quoted by Haaretz newspaper as saying.
Following Barak's budget-cutting decision, the military General Staff Shaul Mofaz has decided that research development and procurement of long-range strategic weapons, relevant for defense against a potential Iranian or Iraqi threat, will not be insulated from the effects of the proposed budgetary slashing, one official said.
"Among other cut-backs, the reductions will apply to components in systems used to counter ballistic missiles," he added
Two years ago, the Clinton administration announced that the US would help finance programs designed to develop and produce these sophisticated anti-missile components, Haaretz said.
The budget needed for the development and procurement of these systems' components combines about $1 billion in US aid, and hundreds of millions of shekels to be allocated by Israel's government.
According to the official, the current proposed budget cut would suspend the allocation of millions of shekels for the systems' development.
"Members of Barak's ministerial committee for security affairs, and high-ranking IDF officers, have complained that the prime minister reached his defense budget reduction decision without first holding sustained discussions with General Staff officers and government ministers," the official added - Albawaba.com
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