Former director Yoram Cohen of the Shabak Israel Security Aervice said, Thursday, that he supports the restrained policy of the Netanyahu government vis-à-vis terrorist organizations in Gaza. Interviewed by Israel Defense Forces Radio, he said, ""If I were in office today, I would suggest telling the public clearly: Israel has no interest in conquering the Gaza Strip."
Cohen explained, "The occupation would take us a few days, but the act of purification would take a long time and will exact the lives of innocent people. We have nothing to seek in Gaza." He claimed, "Israel's policy is not to go to war where it is not required. Israel does not want war and that's good." By way of illustration, he said, "We could have killed 200 Hamas members yesterday and they would have fired 1,000 rockets at us and we would have reacted so we would have entered a war we do not want."