The ship will be capable of carrying tanks, soldiers, helicopters, and UAVs for distances of up to 3,200 kilometers.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are considering an initiative by Maj. Gen. Yedidia Ya'ari for the purchase of a 13,000-ton multi-purpose amphibious assault ship. The ship will be capable of carrying tanks, soldiers, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on missions at distances of up to 3,200 kilometers. “Defense News” says that the ship could change the strategic balance of forces in the region.
Those supporting the initiative say that the ship will extend the range of Israel’s power to the entire Middle East. Opponents say that the ship amounts to a small aircraft carrier, which will require the acquisition of a new fleet of vessels to protect and maintain it.

If a ship is built according to IDF specifications, it will have 115 sailors, and be capable of transporting 600 soldiers. It will dwarf the Israel Navy’s three largest current ships, which are 1,200-ton Saar 5 (Eilat) missile boats, each of which has a crew of 64 sailors.

”Defense News” says that Ya’ari believes that such a ship would revolutionize the IDF’s operational capabilities, enabling it to deliver large ground and support forces far in excess of its current tactically feasible ranges.

A senior IDF strategist told “Defense News” that the new amphibious ship would support the current operational concept, which centers around strategic penetration. “The idea is to identify the problem, send forces, solve the problem, and leave,” the source said. “We have no intention of occupying territory, but we also have no intention of ignoring problems liable to threaten our national security in the coming decades.”

If the IDF general staff approves the Ya’ari initiative, it will end the Saar 5 II plan, an initiative to build a new combat ship at a cost of $700 million-$1 billion, which has been in the planning stages for five years. Lockheed-Martin (NYSE: LMT) and Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC), which are interested in bidding in a future tender to build the planned ship, are currently preparing their initial bids for the project.

Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on May 27, 2004

I don't think this ship is necessary of IDF.

Except if you wanna go together with USA to attack (land) in other places, but I don't think it will happen.

Yea i also think so.
We will get the ship for free but we will have to maintain it and it will cost
us lots.

I think more ships like Saar 5 will be enough.

This is curious, why would the IDF want such a ship?  Unless they intend to be part of a USMC or Royal Marine expeditionary force, I don't see the practicality.  And if they wanted the ships exclusively for themselves, they would also have to buy air defence destroyers and anti-submarine frigates.  Furthermore, I don't think Israel has enough soldiers to make a large amphibious assault against Egypt, Syria or Saudi Arabia, and it would even be a stretch IMHO for Israel to assault Sudan.

Yea we dont need it!!
There is a decision to make the navy to another strategic arm(like the air force and the ground force) but this ship is useless for us.
We need more ships and maybe bigger then what we have but not a carrier style.