Excerpt from PM Netanyahu's Remarks at a Meeting of the IDF General Staff
Forum at the Eshkol Regional Council
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today (Monday, 22 September 2014), at the
Eshkol Regional Council building, attended a meeting of the IDF General
Staff Forum. Also participating were Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, IDF
Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz, members of the IDF General Staff,
Eshkol Regional Council Chairman Haim Jellin, Shaar Hanegev Regional Council
Chairman Alon Shuster, Hof Ashkelon Regional Council Chairman Yair Farjun
and Sderot Mayor Alon Davidi.

Following is an excerpt from Prime Minister Netanyahu's remarks at the start
of the meeting:

"Yesterday the Cabinet approved an economic assistance plan of unprecedented
magnitude.

We came to the country to build and to be built. In order to build up our
country we need a strong economy and security. These are related.

It is easy to dispense promises to everyone but it is much more difficult to
conduct a responsible policy.

Over the years we have conducted a responsible budget policy. We have
managed the economy correctly and the results are readily apparent because
the Israeli economy has received high marks from international markets.

But alongside this, the security threats against the state of Israel require
a considerable increase in the defense budget.

I am responsible for maintaining both Israel's economy and Israel's
security.

These are the considerations that have guided the state budgets that I have
passed up until now both as Finance Minister and as Prime Minister."