IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Gabi Ashkenazi told IDF soldiers Tuesday that they are unique among the world's soldiers, and that he has full confidence that they can defeat Israel's enemies, should war break out.
He spoke at the annual ceremony for excellent soldiers at the President's Residence in Jerusalem, at a time in which war clouds appear to be gathering on Israel's eastern horizon, with a belligerent and fanatical regime in Iran close to achieving nuclear weapons ability. The IDF's soldiers, he said, do not just protect Israel from external enemies; they also strengthen the nation from within and unify it.
Ashkenazi singled out three soldiers for special praise:
Sergeant Daniel Meltzev, a combat soldier in the Netzach Yehudah battalion of hareidi-religious soldiers, who made Aliyah to Israel from Georgia in the former Soviet Union at the age of seven, lost his father on the same year. “Despite the sorrow over his death and his mother's illness, he remained steadfast in his decision to join the IDF as a combat soldier, and continued to serve after his mother's passing, several months ago,” Ashkenazi said.
Lieutenant Linoi Ben Shushan, Deputy Commander of the Intelligence Collection Company in the northern sector of the Gaza front, was singled out for her “alertness and impeccable operation” that prevented the infiltration of a four-man terror cell into Israel several months ago. “Linoi is one of six female combat soldiers who came here today,” Ashkenazi said, “and she affords additional proof of women's contribution to the combat arrays and to the core of operational action.”
Sergeant Netan'el Uzan, a combat soldier in the Armored Corps, was wounded several months ago in the operational accident in which his tank's commander, Sgt. Uriel Liberant, was killed. “Despite his injury Netan'el returned to his role as driver of a Merkava tank, while continuing to support the Liberant family in coping with its tragedy,” the Chief of Staff said.
"I look at Daniel, Linoi and Netan'el, and at you, the excellent soldiers, and say confidently that there is no nation in the world, no other people, that can bring forth from within its midst such sons and daughters, who bear the responsibility that is foisted upon their shoulders so impressively. With you and others like you the nation of Israel can rest assured that it possesses a guard and defender that can stand up to any challenge; to pursue peace and ward off war from the land – but if it should break out, to defeat those who rise against us.”