Speaking at the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee today, Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz said the army continues to act against terrorism centers in the Gaza area and thwart terrorist arms-smuggling intentions.
Halutz told the Committee members of the continued gathering by terrorist groups in Gaza of combat materiel, as well as their ongoing tunnel-digging efforts for smuggling purposes. He said that the terrorists are attempting to amass anti-tank weapons, "as we saw in the Hizbullah warfare in the north."
The former Air Force Commander said that it is clear to him that the IDF will, once again, have to take counter-terrorism action in Gaza. MK Yuval Shteinitz (Likud), a former Chairman of the committee, demanded a comprehensive military operation in Gaza to obviate the rocket threats there.
Kassam rockets have been fired of late at Israel at a rate of several a day of late. Several people were injured in a rocket attack at Sderot earlier this week. Just this past night, the IDF bombed a building in southern Gaza under which a weapons smuggling tunnel was dug.
Troops in Lebanon
MK Ran Cohen (Meretz) demanded that Halutz order the withdrawal of the remaining IDF forces from southern Lebanon. Cohen noted that the Lebanese Army had deployed five divisions in the area, and an international force had also begun to deploy, thus that there is no need for Israel to remain.
Halutz agreed, expressing his hope that by Rosh HaShanah - this Friday - all the soldiers would be back in Israel. MK Yuval Shteinitz (Likud) also agreed, saying Israel's presence in southern Lebanon is currently unnecessary.
Hizbullah announced a celebration Friday for its perceived victory over Israel.
Brig.-Gen. (ret.) MK Effie Eitam (National Union), a former IDF Northern Formation Commander, does not like the withdrawal plan. he said that the IDF should remain in a narrow strip of southern Lebanon "and carry out routine offensive security measures." He expressed concern that the international force would restrict the IDF more than it would Hizbullah.
MK Tzvi Hendel (National Union) called upon Halutz to resign in the wake of the recent warfare in Lebanon. Shteinitz took issue with this demand, saying, "One should be careful making this type of claim in public. There is a price to deposing a Chief of Staff."
After the session, Hendel told Arutz-7's Yedidya HaCohen, "The Chief of Staff did not relate at all to the fiasco of having the IDF waste a full year on the Disengagement. They took the entire army for that mission. How could it be that the Chief of Staff didn't knock on the table and demand an end to that!?"
Halutz told the Committee members of the continued gathering by terrorist groups in Gaza of combat materiel, as well as their ongoing tunnel-digging efforts for smuggling purposes. He said that the terrorists are attempting to amass anti-tank weapons, "as we saw in the Hizbullah warfare in the north."
The former Air Force Commander said that it is clear to him that the IDF will, once again, have to take counter-terrorism action in Gaza. MK Yuval Shteinitz (Likud), a former Chairman of the committee, demanded a comprehensive military operation in Gaza to obviate the rocket threats there.
Kassam rockets have been fired of late at Israel at a rate of several a day of late. Several people were injured in a rocket attack at Sderot earlier this week. Just this past night, the IDF bombed a building in southern Gaza under which a weapons smuggling tunnel was dug.
Troops in Lebanon
MK Ran Cohen (Meretz) demanded that Halutz order the withdrawal of the remaining IDF forces from southern Lebanon. Cohen noted that the Lebanese Army had deployed five divisions in the area, and an international force had also begun to deploy, thus that there is no need for Israel to remain.
Halutz agreed, expressing his hope that by Rosh HaShanah - this Friday - all the soldiers would be back in Israel. MK Yuval Shteinitz (Likud) also agreed, saying Israel's presence in southern Lebanon is currently unnecessary.
Hizbullah announced a celebration Friday for its perceived victory over Israel.
Brig.-Gen. (ret.) MK Effie Eitam (National Union), a former IDF Northern Formation Commander, does not like the withdrawal plan. he said that the IDF should remain in a narrow strip of southern Lebanon "and carry out routine offensive security measures." He expressed concern that the international force would restrict the IDF more than it would Hizbullah.
MK Tzvi Hendel (National Union) called upon Halutz to resign in the wake of the recent warfare in Lebanon. Shteinitz took issue with this demand, saying, "One should be careful making this type of claim in public. There is a price to deposing a Chief of Staff."
After the session, Hendel told Arutz-7's Yedidya HaCohen, "The Chief of Staff did not relate at all to the fiasco of having the IDF waste a full year on the Disengagement. They took the entire army for that mission. How could it be that the Chief of Staff didn't knock on the table and demand an end to that!?"