The Israeli army will be forced to cope with a deteriorating security situation and a reduced military budget during fiscal year 1976-1977, Maj. Gen. Yekutiel Adam, chief of the general staff branch at General Headquarters said at a press conference here. Adam warned that Lebanon could become another confrontation state and “even if the Syrians withdraw totally” it “will never be the same again.”
He also said that if the U.S. fails to provide Israel with an additional $550 million in military assistance to cover the transitional quarter between fiscal 1976 and 1977, all branches of the armed forces–land, sea and air–would be affected.
Adam said the situation on Israel’s northern and eastern frontiers would worsen if Syria refuses to extend the mandate of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) which expires at the end of May. This will require additional expenditures to fortify settlements on the northern frontier and an increased alert level, he said.
According to Adam, the amount allocated to the military training branch of the army has been increased by one-third despite general cuts in the budget. He said the cuts would be implemented mainly by reducing construction and lowering the living standards of Israeli soldiers, possibly even their food rations.
ECONOMIC MEASURES INDICATED
Other economies include reducing the active duty period of reserve soldiers from 70 to 35 days and for officers from 90 to 45 days. New weapons will be absorbed into the army in the expectation that no political developments will occur to curb the Arab arms build-up. Adam said. He said the infantry will be equipped with M-113 armored carriers. Logistics and maintenance will be modernized, the call-up of reserves streamlined and discipline will be improved, he said. Adam said that volunteers will be encouraged for the regular army. This year’s planning is part of a long-range program to expand the army, train it to the highest possible standards and maintain equipment at the utmost readiness, he said.
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