Eye on the Enemy: Barak Says Next War ’’Israel’’ will hit Lebanese infrastructure
Channel 2
Speaking at Herzliya's conference closing panel, defense minister Ehud Barak harshly threatened Lebanon, and warned that in case of a flare-up with Hizbullah, "Israel" will hit the Lebanese infrastructure, and the target will not be the ones of the Second Lebanon War, i.e. Hizbullah, but the Lebanese state.
Regarding the Iranian issue he said, "We must prevent Iran from becoming nuclear before it's too late. Today, unlike the past, there is wide global understanding that it is vital to prevent Iran from going nuclear and that no option must be taken off the table."
"Today, unlike the past, there is wide global understanding that if the sanctions fail to achieve the desired result of stopping the Iranian military nuclear program, there will be a need to consider an operation," he added. Barak also explained that the Iranians are executing everything deep in the earth, and even if progress is slow, at some point even if we wanted to be effective enough we will fail - and therefore we need to act urgently.
Barak stressed that the nuclear program is "maturing" and will enter the secure zone that enables the Iranian regime to complete its nuclear program without any practical obstacles at any time it finds suitable.
On the Palestinian issue, Barak called the Palestinian Authority to continue its political contacts and added, "I call from here the Palestinian leadership of Abu Mazen and Salam Fayyad, to return to the negotiating table without preconditions, and to take bold decisions in order not to miss the train."If you do that you will find us well prepared to make decisions, because the alternative is bad for everyone. "
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Halutz, Iran's Threat "Not Existential"
Aruz Sheva
"Israel's" former chief of staff, who failed to conquer Hizbullah in the Second Lebanon War, stated that Iran poses a serious threat but not an existential threat. In the final panel of the Herzliya Conference, which was held under the title "In the eye of the storm: National Security for "Israel" in another Middle East", former chief of staff, Dan Halutz, raised the Iranian issue and said that Iran poses a serious threat yet not an existential threat, and the use of this terminology is misleading. If it is intended to give a message in favor of attacking in Iran, it is a mistake. "The option to use force is a last resort and it should be carried out only when there is no other choice, and be led by others," he added.
"If we are required to take action; if the approach of using power is forced upon us, we will have to do so far beyond the expectations of the other side. With regard to our security, there will be an iron hand always stretched out for peace."
As for the Arab spring, Halutz said he learned that the strength of non-violent crowds can make a change without any weaponry. He noted that the first round of the Arab spring is over and he expects another one we should be prepared for.
"Moving from a dictatorship to democracy takes time".
According to him, Islamic movements don't lead these revolutions but it's ready to fill the void.
Regarding Turkey Halutz said, "I see in Turkey a chance not a danger, a year ago they were allies of Syria and today they are leading the opposition against it. We have to determine common interests with them. What suits us best will suit the residents of Arab countries; otherwise they'll have many things to lose. We should be prepared for a stable political phase and understand that not every Islamic country poses a threat to "Israel"".
Halutz spoke of the defense budget cuts, saying that "we should study carefully the issue before executing any cuts. The changes taking place in countries around us can lead to directing the frustration to the outside, now it seems that the chance to do that is small, but it depends on the democratization process going on there."
Source: Hebrew Newspapers, Translated by moqawama.org
