The Apache fiasco: Smotrich's maneuver that torpedoed the critical deal for the IDF

Senior defense officials accuse Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich of torpedoing the purchase of Apache helicopters worth a billion dollars by appealing to legal counsel, arguing that the signing was too close to the elections. The deal, intended to provide essential attack helicopters to the IDF, has sparked outrage in the defense establishment over the harm to Israel's security.

Senior defense officials accuse Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich of torpedoing the purchase of Apache helicopters worth a billion dollars. According to them, Smotrich appealed to the government's legal counsel, arguing that signing the agreement three weeks before the elections was improper, thereby obtaining legal opposition to the deal. The Americans agreed three times to defer payment, with $700 million to be paid only after 2030. The Defense Ministry managed to free up procurement budget by delaying payments to Israeli suppliers. A senior defense official said: "What the Finance Ministry did is an abomination" and added that "it is symbolic that on October 7, the Finance Ministry under the minister prevented the procurement of helicopters that were so vital to saving civilians and soldiers." The defense establishment fears Smotrich will also torpedo other deals. The article presents a one-sided position of the defense establishment, without a response from the Finance Ministry or legal counsel.