The government heard the annual intelligence summary Sunday morning from Military Intelligence, the Mossad, the General Security Service (Shin Bet), the Foreign Ministry's intelligence division and the National Security Council (NSC). Generally given to the security cabinet, the summary was presented to the full cabinet this year, because of the 2006 war in Lebanon and the cabinet's involvement in decisions regarding the war.
The ministers – including the new Muslim minister, Raleb Majadle – heard intelligence projections concerning Iran's nuclear program and the likelihood of war with Israel's enemies including Syria, Hizbullah and the Palestinian Authority. This was the first time a Muslim Arab minister was privy to the top secret session. The Prime Minister's bureau confirmed that Majadle was invited to the intelligence briefing, along with all of the other ministers, and told IsraelNationalNews, "This is another nice precedent that is being set this year."
The briefing was given by OC Military Intelligence Maj.-Gen. Amos Yadlin, Mossad director Meir Dagan, GSS chief Yuval Diskin, Director of the Foreign Ministry Center for Policy Research Nimrod Barkan, and NSC head Ilan Mizrahi.
Military sources said the IDF's assessment did not include a high probability of war with Syria, but did include the possibility of renewed conflict with Hizbullah in Lebanon and with the Arabs in the Gaza.
However, there appear to be conflicting opinions on this matter in Israel's intelligence community. Brig.-Gen. Yossi Baidatz, head of the Military Intelligence's Research Division, said last week that Hizbullah's military strength was greater today than it was on the eve of the fighting in Lebanon in July 2006. "In our estimate," Baidatz told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, "the Syrians are preparing for the possibility of war in the region, perhaps through a provocation by a third party."
Experts say the Mossad sees Syrian President Bashar Assad's overtures for peace talks involving far-reaching Israeli territorial concessions as an act of deception, while Military Intelligence thinks Assad may mean what he says.
One of the assessments the government will hear is that war – if it will take place in 2007 – is more likely to occur opposite the Gaza terrorists than in Lebanon.
The intelligence branches point to the proliferation of arms in Gaza and the Hamas' effort to adopt Hizbullah tactics. According to the scenarios being mulled by the Israeli defense community, the Palestinian Authority could attempt a variety of actions, including use of tunnels to dig under Israeli defense installations and carry out murderous attacks on Israeli soldiers and civilians. Should this happen, said a security source, Israel will not be able to continue its restraint and will likely enter Gaza "partially."
The ministers – including the new Muslim minister, Raleb Majadle – heard intelligence projections concerning Iran's nuclear program and the likelihood of war with Israel's enemies including Syria, Hizbullah and the Palestinian Authority. This was the first time a Muslim Arab minister was privy to the top secret session. The Prime Minister's bureau confirmed that Majadle was invited to the intelligence briefing, along with all of the other ministers, and told IsraelNationalNews, "This is another nice precedent that is being set this year."
The briefing was given by OC Military Intelligence Maj.-Gen. Amos Yadlin, Mossad director Meir Dagan, GSS chief Yuval Diskin, Director of the Foreign Ministry Center for Policy Research Nimrod Barkan, and NSC head Ilan Mizrahi.
Military sources said the IDF's assessment did not include a high probability of war with Syria, but did include the possibility of renewed conflict with Hizbullah in Lebanon and with the Arabs in the Gaza.
However, there appear to be conflicting opinions on this matter in Israel's intelligence community. Brig.-Gen. Yossi Baidatz, head of the Military Intelligence's Research Division, said last week that Hizbullah's military strength was greater today than it was on the eve of the fighting in Lebanon in July 2006. "In our estimate," Baidatz told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, "the Syrians are preparing for the possibility of war in the region, perhaps through a provocation by a third party."
Experts say the Mossad sees Syrian President Bashar Assad's overtures for peace talks involving far-reaching Israeli territorial concessions as an act of deception, while Military Intelligence thinks Assad may mean what he says.
One of the assessments the government will hear is that war – if it will take place in 2007 – is more likely to occur opposite the Gaza terrorists than in Lebanon.
The intelligence branches point to the proliferation of arms in Gaza and the Hamas' effort to adopt Hizbullah tactics. According to the scenarios being mulled by the Israeli defense community, the Palestinian Authority could attempt a variety of actions, including use of tunnels to dig under Israeli defense installations and carry out murderous attacks on Israeli soldiers and civilians. Should this happen, said a security source, Israel will not be able to continue its restraint and will likely enter Gaza "partially."