President Shimon Peres gave a shot of encouragement on Monday morning to 600 soldiers preparing to enter Gaza.
Peres arrived in the Tze’elim army base west of Be’er Sheva, and met with Paratroopers Brigades reservists who are about to enter Gaza to take part in the ground offensive.
“I don’t think we have ever had an army as well-trained, organized and sophisticated as you,” the president said. “For me, your generation is an amazing revelation. Instead of giving you compliments, we can just look at the results: In 16 days, the IDF has done what other countries have not done in 16 years.”
“The results of a war are determined by the impression that is left,” Peres said. “The Palestinians present every downfall of theirs as a victory, and Israel verbally turns its victories into defeats – this time, the IDF is achieving genuine and amazing results, in terms of its caution and activity in Gaza, and we have to make sure that this is the real impression that lasts.”
“I would like to thank you in the name of the Nation of Israel on what the IDF has achieved so far,” Peres said, “and I wish you great success during the continued fighting. Israel set off for war after its home front absorbed rockets and a million people were unable to conduct their lives routinely and were forced into shelters.”