Israeli intelligence budget in 2013 hit $1.9 billion

The total budget of the different Israeli intelligence services has risen by 10 per cent in 2013 to reach NIS6.6 billion ($1.9 billion), according to data published by the Israeli ministry of finance.

Leading Israeli daily Haaretz reported the news on Thursday, pointing out that the two main recipients of the money are the Mossad and Shin Bet.

However, exactly how the intelligence services specifically spent the allocated money was not revealed by either the ministry or the newspaper.

The data shows that last year’s budget marked the highest consecutive rise since 2006. The budget was NIS4.6 billion ($1.3 billion) in 2006 and it has subsequently continued rising until it reached NIS6.6 billion ($1.9 billion) in 2013.

The budget of the Israeli intelligence services is directly controlled by the prime minister’s office, but is included in the budget of the ministry of defence.

No accurate data is known about the specifics of the intelligence budget. It is referred to in the budget of the ministry of defence simply as “deduction from the public reserve”.

Haaretz suggests this is an intentional blackout on the details of the budget, which is approved by the Knesset without knowledge of where the money is going: to Mossad, Shabak or Shin Bet.