The Israel Defense Force yesterday began a month-long bid to retrieve an estimated $250 million worth of military equipment reported missing and believed to be in the hands of civilians and army reservists.
For the next month no disciplinary measures will be taken under a special “amnesty” granted to any person turning over to army bases or civilian police stations any military equipment in their possession. After that time, anyone found in illegal possession of army equipment will be severely punished.
The items covered by the amnesty include clothing, arms and ammunition, and other military equipment including binoculars. According to the IDF, equipment missing from their stores include 300 Galil rifles, 200 M-16s, seven bazookas, 45 light mortars, and two 0.50- caliber machine guns. Clothing items include 300,000 sets of IDF work fatigues, 24,000 sets of fireproof overalls, 44,000 mattresses, 11,000 metal cots, and large quantities of blankets and sleeping bags.
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