Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot, IDF generals, commanders and soldiers took part on Monday evening in a ceremony in which certificates of honor were awarded to 31 officers and fighters from various IDF units in the air, sea and land.
"A commander is first and foremost a leader, an educator. He marks the correct path, according to the values of the IDF and the standards of Israeli democracy. I know very well that you can be trusted, you are the lighthouse that leads the entire camp," Liberman said.
The defense minister added, "We live in a new reality of a new Middle East, which is much worse than the old Middle East. And in this terrible new reality, we have yet to face difficult tests. The next confrontation, if it breaks out, will take on a completely different character, when our enemies will try to strike first at population centers and civilian infrastructure. So we will not have the luxury to wage a long war.”
"Any confrontation will have to be conducted from the very first moment in the highest profile, using all the IDF's strengths," Liberman continued. "If there is a crossing of red lines, the other side must know in advance that it is going to pay very heavy prices.”
"The sovereign, too, regardless of whether he controls his territory or not - as soon as a hostile action takes place, the sovereign will also bear all the responsibility," the minister stressed.