Formerchief of staff Gabi Ashkenazi said, Thursday, not to cut the defense budget, given current realities. Regarding the Iranian nuclear threat and the accompanying sabre rattling, the reserves lieutenant-general said, in a speechatthe Institutefor National Security Studies, "In contrast toa decade ago,the possibilitythere will be a confrontationwith Iranisnot somethingtojust talk about,but alsoto prepare for."
Recalling the Cast Lead counterterror operation of 2008-2009, Ashkenazi said, "The possibility of conductinganother extensiveoperationin Gazahas becomemore complexfollowing the events ofthe past yearin Egyptandthe change of governmentin that country".He added, "Ithinkthat this environment will not act likeMubarak.Ido not think hewas a Zionist,but you cannotignore the factthat hewasan anchor of stability in the region, as well as against the background of the not-sosimpletestshe passed-the warsin Lebanon orthe intifada."