Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon was quoted as saying privately on July 23 that the Locker Commission report would not be implemented as long as he is in office. This threat was part of a brutal, no-holds-barred campaign — perhaps unprecedented in its extent — launched last week by the defense establishment with Ya'alon at its head to torpedo the conclusions of the Locker Commission tasked with examining Israel’s defense spending.

The commission appointed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in May 2014, headed by his former top military aide Maj. Gen. (Res.) Yohanan Locker, surprised the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) when it issued its critical report on July 21 featuring a new financial model for payment of retirement pensions. IDF career soldiers are considered public servants but do not enjoy tenure. Their retirement age and pension benefits have been subject to public controversy for several years now. Apart from the pension issue, the commission also attacked the lack of transparency and clarity in the defense budget.

“This report is superficial, highly unbalanced and completely detached from the reality of the State of Israel,” Ya'alon lashed out, claiming that the recommendations eroding the benefits of career army soldiers are the result of incitement and could result in a massive walkout. Subsequently, he even boycotted a meeting with Locker and the prime minister to underline his vehement protest.

The chief IDF spokesman, Maj. Gen. Moti Almoz, also issued a sharp response, calling the report’s findings “a bullet between the eyes.” The director general of the Defense Ministry, Gen. (Res.) Dan Harel, was also aggressive in his response, claiming that implementation of the report would destroy the military.