(Ynet).Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak met Saturday night to discuss the planned cutbacks in the government's budget, which are bound to affect the Defense Ministry.
Barak, who is adamantly against any cuts to the defense establishment's budget, detailed his reservations, saying that "the Iranian threat has budgetary implications."
The defense minister, along with several other security officials, implored Netanyahu to adhere to the Brodet Report, which recommended additional funds be given to the Defense Ministry, over several years. The Brodet recommendations were approved by the former government.
"Israel faces complex security challenges – the Iranian threat, Hizbullah's threat and the perils of Hamas. Brodet's budget would allow us to meet these challenges."
According to Barak, "The existence of life in the Middle East should precede quality of life. The defense establishment is a key player in the Israeli market and it includes the military industries, exports and social ventures.
"These funds cannot be compromised because the challenges we face are unprecedented," he said.
