Speaking before the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Monday, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that Israelis could expect Arab armies to drop as much as 50 tons of explosives over Israeli cities if war breaks out. “The bombings will be imprecise, but we must remember that the IDF can fire 1,500 tons of explosives in a very precise manner.” Barak said that Arab countries in the region were building a capacity to strike hard at Israel's interior in the event of war, using missiles and bombs. And, he said Israel had to worry about Iran's weapons development, and the growth in strength of terror groups.

Barak suggested that Israel use the coming months to work out a deal with the PA, and prevent them from garnering support for declaration of an Arab state in Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem.