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Israel

Budgets cut to pay for war

September 4, 2014 14:25

By

Anshel Pfeffer,

Anshel Pfeffer

1 min read

The overall damage to Israel's economy from 50 days of fighting is still being assessed. So far, the cost is estimated to be between NIS 15 and 20bn (£2.5bn-£3.4bn).

The cost to Israeli industry, particularly factories in the south hit by rockets or forced to close down, is estimated at around NIS 1.3bn (£230m).

The tourism sector meanwhile, which was particularly affected because the fighting took place during the summer holidays, lost around NIS 2bn (£340m) in revenue.

Aside from the damage to the civilian sectors, the IDF is demanding NIS 9bn (£1.5bn) to cover costs incurred by Operation Protective Edge; to enlarge the annual defence budget to counter new threats from Gaza and on Israel's northern border with the rise of Isis.

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