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By: Yaniv Kubovich
8:17 PM
IDF Chief of Staff : ‘Our army is prepared, ready and determined to provide security’
The IDF Chief of Staff Herzl Halevi said following a situation assessment in northern Israel on Friday that “this is a complex period. Our army is strong and will continue to exert its power for as long as it takes against any enemy and anywhere needed.”
Halevi added that he recommends Israel’s enemies “not to mistake us. Not during the holidays nor during a time of public debate. Our army is prepared, ready and determined to provide security to the citizens of Israel.”
7:46 PM
Despite harsh rhetoric, Israel signals to Hamas and Hezbollah it’s ready for calm
Israel is signaling to Hamas and Hezbollah that it wants to end the current round of fighting. This is the clear conclusion after the air force’s attack Thursday night – both on the Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon – following the firing of rockets into the Negev and the Galilee earlier that day.
There’s no need to blindly follow the government’s hawkish rhetoric, or the explanations by officers in the Israel Defense Forces. All this is clear from the choice of targets and the firepower.
Israel’s response was restrained; it was careful not to cause casualties and was 10 times as cautious when confronting Hezbollah. And Friday morning, the authorities told the residents of Gaza-border communities that they no longer had to be poised to run to their bomb shelters.
So if the other side shows restraint, and if another eruption doesn’t occur on the Temple Mount/Al-Aqsa compound, an end can be declared to this round of tensions until next time, which could be quite soon. Of course, the IDF has broader plans filed away, but they’ll only be pulled out if the enemy dictates it.
Rose Rambles... 