President Shimon Peres gave a shot of encouragement on Monday morning to 600 soldiers preparing to enter Gaza. Peres arrived in the Tze’elim army base west of Be’er Sheva, and met with Paratroopers Brigades reservists who are about to enter Gaza to take part in the ground offensive.
“I don’t think we have ever had an army as well-trained, organized and sophisticated as you,” the president said. “For me, your generation is an amazing revelation. Instead of giving you compliments, we can just look at the results: In 16 days, the IDF has done what other countries have not done in 16 years.”