country’s huge defence budget. Fortunately
– unlike in the 1970s when it represented
30% of GDP – it now stands at more than
7%, lower than it was but still far higher
than that of many Western countries.
According to Daniel Ben Simon (www.almonitor.com/pulse/originals/2014/10/israeldefense-budget-poverty-eli-elalouf-reportlapid.html ), “Even during its most difficult
times, when the Egyptian and Syrian fronts
were active, Israel’s defence spending never
came anywhere near the level of the
proposed 2015 budget. The ministers voted
in favour of 65 billion shekels ($18 billion)
for defence. Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu steamrolled the ministers into
approving an additional 15 billion shekels
($4.2 billion) this year – half of which has
already been approved, and the second half
to be taken from the budgetary reserves
designated for emergencies and unforeseen
expenditures.”
So, where does the Border Police fit into
this budget? Well, for one thing, there are 7
500 serving in this unit. Its success has
come from keeping Israel’s borders secure,
not by engaging and ‘neutralising’ the
enemy, which is what one might expect of
the army, for instance, but by ‘apprehending’
terrorists before they commit any damage.
The Border Police is made up of a small,
professional corps which works full-time, in
conjunction with 1 000 volunteers who
commit to serving in the Border Police in
addition to their regular annual service in
the army. They are far more heavily armed
than members of the regular police force
that operate in the rest of the country.
All border policemen receive combat
training and are also tra