Defense chief Ya’alon pans Locker report as ‘detached from reality’

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon pummels the so-called Locker Commission, which calls for comprehensive reforms and some major belt-tightening measures in the Israel Defense Forces.

“The report is superficial, extremely unbalanced and completely detached from the reality in and around the State of Israel,” Ya’alon says.

“The report, if implemented, would place a gamble on the safety of Israeli citizens. The shortening compulsory military service to two years [down from three] shows a complete lack of understanding of the military establishment,” he adds.

The commision calls for cuts in the army’s spending plan, a sharp reduction in the duration of compulsory service, transparency and an inflexible five-year budget capped at NIS 59 billion ($15 billion) per year.