Voice of Israel military correspondent Carmela Menashe, known for quoting unnamed military officers, quoted another one this morning against the Jewish presence in Netzarim. The anonymous official said, according to Menashe, that the army is paying too high a price to "protect 60 families in an isolated enclave in Gaza." At the same time, however, Brig.-Gen. Tzvi Fogel, who served as a top IDF Southern Command officer until three months ago, said the opposite: "Netzarim is situated in a very strategic place, and its presence enables the army to cut the Gaza Strip into parts [when necessary] and to take action..."
Shimoni noted that 120 new families had come to live in the Jewish communities in Gaza over this past summer: "There are barely any empty homes, and we have great plans for more construction."
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Moshe Yaalon said that the remarks by the unnamed officer against Israel's presence in Netzarim were "inappropriate." Justice Minister Tommy Lapid of Shinui and Labor MK Chaim Ramon added their voices to those calling on Israel to dismantle Netzarim and relocate its 65 families. Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz (Likud) called "very grave" the fact that IDF officers are taking stands on political issues.
MK Tzvi Hendel of the National Union, a resident of Gush Katif, wrote in the Yediot Acharonot newspaper today:
"The terrorists acted in Netzarim because they knew that this would arouse an immediate public debate in Israel [about remaining there or dismantling it] that would weaken Israeli society. It is maddening that the Israeli left has managed to instill a corrupt ethic, not humane and not Jewish, that causes tremendous damage to IDF activities...
"IDF officers in the southern region said, immediately after the details of the Oslo Accords became known, that if Netzarim had not come into existence, we would have had to establish it. They said that Netzarim 'enables supervision and control of the city of Gaza, as well as its coasts and port, that are liable to be used as a pipeline to transport heavy weapons to the Palestinian terrorist organizations.'"
Shimoni noted that 120 new families had come to live in the Jewish communities in Gaza over this past summer: "There are barely any empty homes, and we have great plans for more construction."
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Moshe Yaalon said that the remarks by the unnamed officer against Israel's presence in Netzarim were "inappropriate." Justice Minister Tommy Lapid of Shinui and Labor MK Chaim Ramon added their voices to those calling on Israel to dismantle Netzarim and relocate its 65 families. Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz (Likud) called "very grave" the fact that IDF officers are taking stands on political issues.
MK Tzvi Hendel of the National Union, a resident of Gush Katif, wrote in the Yediot Acharonot newspaper today:
"The terrorists acted in Netzarim because they knew that this would arouse an immediate public debate in Israel [about remaining there or dismantling it] that would weaken Israeli society. It is maddening that the Israeli left has managed to instill a corrupt ethic, not humane and not Jewish, that causes tremendous damage to IDF activities...
"IDF officers in the southern region said, immediately after the details of the Oslo Accords became known, that if Netzarim had not come into existence, we would have had to establish it. They said that Netzarim 'enables supervision and control of the city of Gaza, as well as its coasts and port, that are liable to be used as a pipeline to transport heavy weapons to the Palestinian terrorist organizations.'"