There's no lack of sacred cows in Israel's pastures, but the plumpest and oldest can be found in the defense establishment, or more precisely, in the defense establishment's budget. Whenever Israel is caught in an economic crisis or a recession, this everlasting, painful topic comes up time after time: "The defense budget must be cut." Seeing eye to eye, they all check the figures, click their tongues, and sometimes introduce the cuts. But a few months later, the budget book reveals that not only has the defense budget not been compromised, but quite the contrary: It has continued to swell.

That's quite understandable. Everywhere around the world, the defense budget is something that can be cut, and with real insistence it can be abolished altogether. Take France, for example. Suppose French President François Hollande decides to abolish the defense budget and take the military apart? Yes, precisely that. What will happen to France? Nothing. Will the British or German militaries invade that country to pillage and plunder its treasure troves of delectable camembert cheese? Obviously not. In most countries around the world, security is a luxury of sorts.

Not in Israel, however. The state of Israel will not last a minute without a strong, potent Israel Defense Forces that has a qualitative edge of at least one generation over of its rivals. This is still the only country in the world that fights for its existence; it's a daily, never-ending struggle, which will not end even if it makes peace with the Palestinians. Iran's bridgeheads on Israel's frontiers — to wit, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, not to mention global jihadists penetrating Syria, and above all the Iranian danger itself — all but ensure that the Israeli defense establishment will thrive for dozens of years to come.

When the scope of the Israeli budget deficit became apparent this year, it was decided that slashing the defense budget was unavoidable. There was talk about a NIS 4 billion cut (more than $1 billion), but the final cut stands at NIS 3 billion ($820 million). Payments to the defense industries will be deferred; things will be knocked off here and there, so it's all good. There won't be a real cut or a substantial organizational restructuring. Nor will a new doctrine be introduced. No one will come out of its armored box to reboot Israel's defense outlook. Israel's defense budget will drop this year to NIS 51 billion ($14 billion). But put your mind at ease: By 2018 it will have soared to as much as NIS 59 billion ($16 billion).