Lieberman calls for raising army’s budget to face regional changes

Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman called for raising the budget of the Israeli army in order to face the regional changes, Shehab.ps reported yesterday.

According to the Hebrew newspaper Maariv, the Palestinian news website said: “Lieberman requested five billion shekels [$1.45 billion] for the army’s budget in addition to the budget already allocated to the multi-year plan due to the changes in the region.”

Previously, Lieberman said that Israel would never allow Syria to become a frontline used to launch attacks against it.

During a tour across the northern borders with Syria, he said: “We will not allow Iranian entrenchment in Syria, nor will we allow Syria to become a front line against the State of Israel.”

He added: “We maintain complete freedom of operations.”

Israel: Lieberman seeks $1.15bn increase in defence budget