IDF chief slams ‘chatter’ by former defense officials
Israeli preparedness to attack Iran is a major deterrent, IDF Chief of Staff
Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee
on Tuesday.
Gantz listed reasons Tehran may give up on nuclear weapons, such as “the
vectors of international diplomatic isolation, economic pressure and
sanctions, disturbances to the [nuclear] project that I won’t get into and a
credible military threat.”
He added that “in order to be a credible military threat, we must be
super-ready and as far as I’m concerned, we’re super-ready.”
The IDF chief explained that Iran had yet to determine whether to use its
nuclear capabilities for weapons, and only Tehran could make that final
decision. The IDF is prepared for either scenario, he said.
“There is a lot of chatter and public debate on this matter,” he pointed
out. “The Iranian issue capabilities or lack thereof, how things are
developing and where it’s going is very dynamic, and very few people know
what is possible or impossible.”
Gantz said many people claimed to know what was happening, but they did not,
and the public debate and professional debate were far from each other.
“Some people used to know, and they don’t today,” he stated, in reference to
former defense establishment officials like former Mossad chief Meir Dagan
and former Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) chief Yuval Diskin, who have
said an attack on Iran would not be effective.
Gantz also said the IDF was concerned about arms smuggling between Hezbollah
and Syria, noting that there was more movement than ever before and that
Iran and Hezbollah were very involved in Syria.
Instability on the Golan Heights has increased as a result of the situation
in Syria, as have the security issues near the border, although there has
not yet been any terrorist activity, he said.
The chief of staff called Syria a “lose-lose situation,” because if Syrian
President Bashar Assad were to fall, radical elements would take over. If he
remains in power, he will be weak, Gantz continued, and there will be
instability.
“Good things won’t happen in Syria,” the IDF chief said, explaining that
there was likely to be an increase in arms smuggling in either case.
He also called for the IDF to compile a multi-year plan with an increased
budget, saying that at present the military was “floating like a raft, not
sailing like a boat.”
“The framework of the budget does not allow a reasonable continuation of a
multi-year plan in the complex strategic reality and negative trends,” he
stated. “We must ensure our ability to attack from the air and ground at the
same time. I must ensure that the active units are not hollow and can
fulfill any mission.”
Gantz added that he had total faith in the air force and intelligence, but
that he must make sure to preserve their power.
By Lahav Harkov
dear Sirs
is time that israel wakes up,for the safety for israeli in first.
i am not ebrew but i am partner with ebrews israeli which i strongly respect and i live since 5 years in asia.
The present situation of total anarchy and unpredictable future is only the result of the bad management
ofthe american administration in last 20 years and the pushing of no values around the world apart stupid and non sense
consumerism.
my father has done harvard when harvard was still serious,i studied business administration in best university in europe and have studied in us too.
is not political claim, is unfortunately the reality. I am italian,i am against communist old way ( which sincerely are only now in cuba ,venezuela,singapore and north korea ), i am against the muslim power expanding like a deadly virus but the total mismanagement of the bribed american administration has only pushed the world to a blind corner
world was easy to do business when the only countries competing were the banana’s countries ( europe,us,japan) ,to expand markets lot of political events were pushed and to please the interest in oil lot of protection and power has be given to arabs by us.
now ? now they lost totall control of all and competition is between countries with complete different rules so the ” business systems ” of the mckinsey era has become bullshit.
no value consumerism is expandins,americans are unable to improve and need desperately wars ( only wars make us production restart), the competition with asia is on raw materials and oil,muslims are spreading around thanks to the american which gives terrorist arab the power back in exchange of oil contracts…SO ? where is the puppett Israel ?
Who is Isreal in this world ? are the Israeli happy to be slave of americans to please their interest in exchange of what ? profits of the ebrew in US who even do not speak ebrew anymore ?
ISRAEL wake up , do not trust anyone ,Us in first ,they caused the present situation around you and around europe.
Break the circle , become friend of the arabs and iran too ,cut americans out …if they like war they can do in their country right ? israel is time to be no more slaves , wake up .