War costs a lot of money that we spend every day: Netanyahu

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
31 Oct 2023 20:41

The Israeli occupation prime minister outlined three key objectives.

Israeli artillery fires near Gaza Strip, occupied Palestine on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023 (AP Photo)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has outlined financial and economic objectives for the government, acknowledging that the ongoing war on Gaza will incur significant costs, as reported by his office on Tuesday.

"Our first goal is to preserve the macroeconomic structure of Israel so that the economy functions and does not collapse. The second goal is to enable the Israeli [Occupation] Forces and the security forces to fight the war. It costs a lot of money that we spend every day. The third goal is to ensure that the unprecedented number of mobilized reservists does not suffer," the prime minister said, as quoted by his office.

Unwavered US support

The US has been a major contributor in supporting "Israel's" actions in Gaza and promoting false narratives about the conflict.

It recently proposed a UN Security Council resolution to legitimize "Israel's" actions under the guise of self-defense, while seeking substantial funding for "Israel."

Critics argue that this support only fuels Palestinian resistance and prolongs the conflict, as it discourages calls for a ceasefire.

The US' refusal to push for a humanitarian truce further exacerbates the situation, leading to more violence and casualties.

Despite the turmoil within the occupation, the US is seen as assisting "Israel" in preparing for a ground invasion, potentially leading to further violence and instability.

House GOP cuts IRS funds to aid "Israel"

Earlier today, a report by Wahington Post revealed that House Republicans have proposed a plan to provide $14 billion in aid to "Israel" to support it in its war on Gaza by cutting funds from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) aimed at addressing tax evasion among the wealthy and improving taxpayer services.

President Biden had suggested a similar amount of aid to "Israel" but did not propose offsetting budget cuts.

This proposal reflects the Republican Party's desire to reverse the IRS expansion secured by Biden in 2022, which included an $80 billion increase in funding for improving taxpayer services and enhancing enforcement actions against wealthy tax evaders.

The GOP bill would reduce funding for most aspects of the IRS expansion but not for improved taxpayer services that have helped reduce call wait times.

It's worth noting that using IRS funding to offset "Israel" aid might not save money, as it was estimated that the IRS expansion would reduce the deficit by more than $100 billion by enhancing tax collection and enforcement.

.@GOP has long worked to slash the IRS budget, denying it modern tech.

Now the anti-law-and-order party wants to defund the IRS as a condition of helping Israel in its war with Hamas, The @washingtonpost reports.

Handcuffing the tax police is a gift to superrich tax cheats. pic.twitter.com/9eIC1iKOHz
— David Cay Johnston (@DavidCayJ) October 30, 2023