Israeli finance ministry rebuffs military budget rise demand

Israeli army’s demand for a budget rise was rebuffed by the regime’s Finance Ministry only a few hours after the army chief of staff Lieut. Gen. Benny Gantz announced the cancellation of all further reservist trainings.

A source told Ynet that not only would the Finance Ministry refuse to authorize a cash injection for the military establishment, but that it would recommend further cuts in future discussions of the 2015 budget.

The source commented on an estimate released by the Bank of Israel on Monday, which said the government would have to cut ministries' budgets and raise taxes totaling 18 billion shekels for 2015.

According to the source, not only would the defense not receive the additional funds it wants, but it would also have to share in the burden of the government's cutting costs.

Earlier on Tuesday, ‘Defense’ Minister Moshe Ya'alon responded to the cancellation of army reservist training.