IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-General Aviv Kochavi has decided to cancel training exercises for reservists serving in Yehuda and Shomron due to budgetary limitations.

The budgetary gaps were revealed during a recent assessment by the Land Forces Commander Major-General Yoel Strik regarding IDF resources and the ability to conduct all training on the planned graph for 2019, as explained to Kochavi when taking command of the military in January 2019. At that time, NIS millions were transferred for weaponry and this results in less funds available training exercises.

Beyond that, there were unplanned maneuvers in Gaza and other events prompted the decision of Kochavi to cancel training exercises in the 340th Division in the Central Command, which serves in Yehuda and Shomron.

Yossi Dagan, who heads the Shomron Regional Council, called the IDF chief’s decision “delusional”, adding, “there are those among us who believe world peace has come to Yehuda and Shomron. Time after time, exercises and manpower in Yehuda and Shomron are cut. The murderous stabbing attack on erev Tisha B’Av that claimed the life of Dvir Sorek HY”D is another in the growing number of attacks throughout Yehuda and Shomron in the past two years, and instead of an increase in budget and manpower, we see the reverse is taking place…”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)