Basic changes in the Israel armed forces’ organizational and training systems, required by developments in military science and recent political events in the Middle East, can be expected within a few weeks. Prime Minister David Ben Gurion declared today in Knesset.
The Prime Minister made the disclosure in reply to a General Zionist proposal that military service for women be reduced from 24 to 18 months. The Prime Minister did not give any details of the projected reorganization.
Declaring that “we stand now on the eve of changes in all military matters,” the Prime Minister said; “We must make a new accounting of our resistance capabilities because the world around us is charging, both the world nearby and the more distant world. Things that were good a few years ago may not be sufficient any more.” He explained that the progress of military technology made necessary longer training periods in the military services.
After the military authorities completed their study of the needed changes, he would present the proposals to the Cabinet for final approval, the Prime Minister stated. The plans, after Cabinet approval, will be presented to both the Security and Finance committees of Knesset, he said, because the plans were likely to involve budgetary problems.
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