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Netanyahu presents Israel’s 2030 security concept

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented his security cabinet with Israel’s “2030 security concept”, which has been formulated over the past two years. During the cabinet meeting, which was the first of a series of discussions on the issue, Netanyahu presented the anticipated threats for the coming decade, the building of the necessary force to counter those threats and the principles for operation of the force.

The full document is currently classified and will soon be presented in full by the Prime Minister to the Knesset Subcommittee on Intelligence Affairs and Secret Services, the IDF General Staff Forum, the Mossad and the Israel Security Agency. The non-classified part of the document pertains to the budgetary implications which will soon be submitted for Cabinet approval. It includes an increase of Israel security budget by 0.2 to 0.3 percent of the country’s Gross National Product – an increase from the already standing 6 percent. That said, when Israel’s Gross National Product will reached half a trillion dollars, the budget to all of Israel’s security bodies will be re-evaluated.

The budgetary supplement will be allocated to a series of issues including:

* Strengthening offensive capabilities

* Major power-level cyber capabilities

* Upgrading anti-missile defense

* Continued protective measures on the home front

* The completion of security fences.

Following the cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Netanyahu released a televised statement in which he explained the significance of Israel’s “2030 security concept.” “In recent years our region is undergoing a dramatic change, the threats surrounding us are rapidly changing. That is why I suggested today “2030 security concept” to the cabinet. Naturally I cannot elaborate on matters of  force building and operating, but I can say that the backlog of threats and changes requires additional budget to all of Israel’s security branches, the IDF, the Shin Bet, and the Mossed, and others. It is vital for the security of each and every one of us and Israel’s economy is strong enough today to withstand. In the past 20 years we have nurtured a free economy, in order to fund the country’s needs, first and foremost security. Now we are required to finance an additional security funding to safeguard our economy and other needs of the country,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.