Israeli officials are concerned that the United States' budget cuts due to begin on March 1 will reduce its military aid to the Jewish country, economic Globes reported on Wednesday.
The report said the planned budget cuts will approximately chop 250 million U.S. dollars from the aid and will halt the U.S. assistance to Israel's missile programs.
According to previous plans, Israel would receive 211 million U. S. dollars in 2013 to purchase additional anti-missile Iron Dome batteries, which intercepted thousands of missiles launched from the Gaza Strip in November 2012, when Israel and Hamas, rulers of the Palestinian enclave, were engaged in a large-scale confrontation.
In addition, the United States was set to provide 268 million U. S. dollars for two joint U.S.-Israeli missile programs, the Hetz ( arrow) and Kla David (Magic Wand).
In light of the colossal cut in U.S. aid, Israeli defense, finance and foreign ministries are working on a strategy to counter its impact on Israel's security.
The budget cuts, if come true, will be disastrous for Israel " when the possibility of a military conflict with our neighbors is on the rise," Elad Aaron, a defense analyst, told Xinhua.
"There are supplies of chemical weapons in Syria which may fall into the wrong hands. Development of defense systems to sustain Israel's home front is of vital importance," he added.
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