Despite the pursuit of a political settlement over Iran’s nuclear program, Israel is spending almost $3 billion in preparation for a possible military strike on Tehran.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon ordered the army to continue the preparations at a cost of at least 10 billion shekels ($2.89 billion) this year, senior military officers told legislators.

Three members of the Knesset, present at joint committee hearings on Israel Defense Forces plans, confirmed the allocation of funds.

Asked by committee members whether such a large expenditure was justified and whether the plans were affected by negotiations between Iran and the 5+1 Powers for a comprehensive nuclear deal, the officers said Netanyahu and Ya’alon had given a clear directive.

Netanayhu has repeatedly said that Israel will not allow unrestricted Iranian enrichment of uranium. Ya’alon said this week:

We think that the United States should be the one leading the campaign against Iran. But the U.S. has entered talks with them and unfortunately, in the haggling in the Persian bazaar, the Iranians were better….

Therefore, on this matter, we have to behave as though we have nobody to look out for us but ourselves.