Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer says that he stands behind the entry into and withdrawal from the Palestinian-controlled areas in Gaza yesterday, and that he does not plan to bounce the responsibility onto anyone else. The sudden withdrawal orders took the army by surprise - particularly Gaza battalion commander Brig.-Gen. Yair Naveh. Naveh told reporters yesterday, \"We will remain for days, weeks, or months, as long as it takes… The operation is defensive, not offensive, and will allow residents of Sderot and the region to sleep in peace.\" Ben-Eliezer attempted to explain Naveh\'s remarks as a warning to the Palestinians for the future.



The ministers of the security mini-cabinet are convened at this hour to discuss the chain of events that led to the quick withdrawal of the IDF from the PA autonomous areas in Gaza. Some of the ministers have criticism of the manner in which the decisions were made.