Israel plans 'huge' defence build-up, eyes military manufacturing autonomy

Israel plans a "huge" addition to its defence budget as part of a build-up designed to cover its needs for years to come, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday, adding that one goal was an independent military manufacturing sector.

Briefing reporters, he said an inter-ministerial panel would in eight weeks present plans for "the huge additional (funding), to create that independence in force build-up and in other things required to ensure our security in the coming years".