by Israel Hayom Staff
Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz warns of armament in Gaza, insists Israel must maintain military superiority • Iran's nuclear aspirations have not diminished, he says • Hezbollah and Hamas know fighting with Israel will be devastating to them, Gantz says.
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"I
am convinced that Iran must be stopped," says IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny
Gantz
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Photo credit: IDF
Spokesperson's Unit  |
The Middle East is facing "dramatic instability in the
entire region, and we must remain alert and prepared," IDF Chief of Staff Lt.
Gen. Benny Gantz said Monday at the annual Herzliya Conference.
In his address, Gantz gave an overview of the conflicts in
the Middle East, which he described as "terribly agitated in recent years." He
began with the Iranian threat, saying that Iran's advanced nuclear aspirations
have not diminished.
"Iran has not relinquished its nuclear vision," Gantz
said.
"Nevertheless, the Iranians who are holding on to this
vision have had to wage an internal battle, and have had to engage in a dialogue
with the international community on the issue.
"I am convinced that Iran must be stopped before it
achieves nuclear power, which, in turn, will spark an arms race. With the help
of the international community, we can make it so that Iran will never get
there, be it by use of force or without use of force. Iran must not achieve
nuclear power."
The IDF chief then touched on the war in Syria,
speculating that Israel would have many encounters on that front in the coming
years.
"The leadership system in that country is coming apart
like a house of cards. As long as [Syrian President Bashar] Assad remains, I
don't see any meaningful solution because the fighting is against him and not
for the sake of the future," he said.
Gantz warned that in Syria there is "a radical axis
developing, led by Iran and Hezbollah. The Lebanese terror organization is up to
its neck in everything that is going on in Syria. The global jihad is also
gaining strength in that arena."
He also said that he believed Israel would soon "encounter
Hezbollah offensives, be it frontally or in the form of widespread combat within
Lebanon."
According to Gantz, "Hezbollah is currently deterred. They
know what will happen if they enter into combat with us -- it would send Lebanon
back decades."
Gantz then voiced concerns over "dramatic" armament in the
Gaza Strip. He spoke of "considerable drama in the scope of mid- and long-range
rockets. There are local incidents across Judea and Samaria that could develop
into a significant encounter."
Like Hezbollah, Hamas "understands the price of combat,"
Gantz said. He added that to keep such enemies at bay, the Israel Defense Forces
will have to adapt and conform itself to whatever the future brings.
"We have to maintain our superiority in the sea, on land and in
the air, as well as in terms of intelligence," Gantz said.
Israel Hayom Staff
Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=18039
Copyright - Original materials copyright (c) by the authors.
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