Israel defense budget said too low

JERUSALEM, Dec. 25 (UPI) -- Israel's 2008 budget is being criticized as being too sparse when it comes to defending the nation against the potential threat posed by Iran.

Some lawmakers said Tuesday the spending plan to be put before the Knesset Thursday should be defeated unless more money is allocated for defense, in particular gas masks to protect citizens in the event of a chemical attack.

"The most imminent threat to the state of Israel is the threat of a nuclear Iran," Knesset Member Ephram Sneh of the Labor Party told The Jerusalem Post. "This threat is growing, yet we do not have the budget to appropriately deal with it."

Haaretz added that Sneh insisted he would vote against the budget unless the defense allocation is beefed up significantly.