Defense minister calls off Israeli home front exercise

A defense ministry source reported Friday that Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon and Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz had decided to call off the annual “Turning-point 8” home front defense exercise scheduled for next month for lack of funds. The source added that the cancellation marked the total winding-down of training projects for the army and security forces, as a result of budget cuts. “This is not a game or a threat. It’s just reality,” he said.