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Barak during Golan Drill: Hizbullah Much Stronger

Barak during Golan Drill: Hizbullah Much Stronger
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Source: Al-Manar TV, 12-8-2008
Keeping a close eye on Hizbullah's military strength along with Syria, "Israeli" War Minister Ehud Barak visited an "Israeli" army drill in the occupied Golan Heights on Tuesday and said that "it's not by chance that the army is training in the Golan so extensively."
Barak was accompanied by "Israeli" army Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Gabi Ashkenazi, Head of the GOC Army Headquarters Major-General Avi Mizrahi and other senior "Israeli" army officers. "We are seeing a significant strengthening by Hizbullah in the past few years. We're monitoring any possibility of a shift in balance (of power) due to the Syrians supplying Hizbullah with advances weapons' systems.
"We're doing what needs to be done, preparation wise. I'd rather not elaborate. If we need to take action we'll be ready," he said.
When asked about a possible armed conflict between the "Israeli" army, Syria and Hizbullah, Barak said: "The fact that we're conducting a live-ammunition training drill, with all the (relevant) commanders and troops, is a pivotal part of the moves led by the chief of staff in the past 18 months.
Barak expressed optimism with regards to the "Israeli" army's capabilities. "The army is regaining its strength, and coming back to the right morals. The training has changed the units' readiness to the core, and enhances their ability to carry out combat missions, should they be required to do so. The "Israeli" Army is re-focusing on its core values and the right kind of training mode," he continued. "It is our duty as the government to make sure that the Army has the means necessary to keep the training up."
As for the Finance Ministry's intention to cut the "Israeli" War Ministry's budget, Barak said that ""Israel" is a country in which security is made up not only of tanks and jets, but also of education and welfare... but we do not have the luxury of taking away from the defense budget." And what of the ceasefire between "Israel" and the resistance groups in Gaza? "It seems promising so far," he said. "We've had about 10 rocket incidents in the past six weeks, and compared to the hundreds we were seeing each week, this gives us the ability to exert all viable options for Gilad Shalit's release."
"Every quiet week is a good one... the government has to tend to the social and financial infrastructure in the Gaza vicinity area," he added.
Ashkenazi also expressed his satisfaction from the drill, saying that the army is on the right track. He said, "I am pleased with what I see and think that we are heading in the right direction," adding that "the training and the drills serve to restore the army's readiness to act when necessary. Furthermore, we are talking about a process. There is still work to be done, there are no shortcuts, it is very hard work. I think that people understand this, I think that officers understand this. We are all working hard and use every day to strengthen our capabilities and readiness to execute our tasks."
Commenting for the first time on the now-infamous Naalin shooting incident, in which an occupation soldier fired a rubber bullet at a bound Palestinian during a rally against the construction of the West Bank security fence, Ashkenazi said it was "a failure in command."
As for the decision to dismiss Lieutenant-Colonel Omri Bruberg, the regiment commander who gave the order to fire, Ashkenazi claimed that Omri understands that what happened with him is regrettable, adding "I see this as a failure in command and I told him as much. Omri will be transferred to another post; he'll go through what he needs to go through, and I'm not overruling the possibility of reinstating him in the future."
Concerning the Georgia-Russia conflict, the "Israeli" war Minister warned against leaving friends during testing times. "We view Russia as a very important country both on a regional and global scale," he said. "[At the same time,] we see Georgia as a country with which we have friendly relations, and "Israel", particularly due to its experience, must ensure that it does not rush to leave its friends at a testing time."
"This is what we have expected from our friends and it is what our friends expect from us," he continued. Barak's remarks came amid Russian protests over "Israeli" weapons sales to Georgia.

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