The Minister of Defense participated in the annual conference of the Institute for Anti-Terrorism Policy at Reichman University. During his speech, Gantz addressed a number of security issues, including the Iranian threat.
At the beginning of his remarks, Gantz referred to the current security situation, and emphasized that "all the arenas are active and sensitive, something could happen in all of them in the morning or in the afternoon, and this tension must be maintained. The strategic objectives that have been made possible - affect our lives every day."
“And Hamas is deterred by the State of Israel. But, we will meet this arena in an operative manner - I have no doubt," he said. "The reality in Judea and Samaria is more complex, and in recent months we have seen the extent of terrorism coming out of this territory."
Continuing his remarks, Gantz, the former IDF Chief-of-Staff, spoke of the northern front. "We need to continue to act against the Iranian establishment in Syria, and against other terrorist elements. On the issue of the gas rig, I believe in my opinion that in the end there will be two rigs - one in Israel and one more on the Lebanese side if the drilling there is successful."
Benny Gantz says Iran has built a master terror industry in Syria. https://t.co/N8u4OipPQ6
— Joop Soesan 🇮🇱🇳🇱 (@JoopSoesan) September 15, 2022
"The question is whether there will be an escalation in the middle of negotiations or not, and the State of Israel is ready to reach an agreement with the Lebanese, an agreement that will serve both countries," he emphasized. "We are ready for a settlement on the issue - working with the American mediator."
⚠️"Price Will be Lebanon"Israeli DefMin Issues Hezbollah Warning Over Gas Fields Dispute
— Valeria (@Valere_ia) September 16, 2022
Israel’s defense minister Benny Gantz warned on Thursday that if Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group were to sabotage the maritime dispute between the 2 countries,“the price will be Lebanon” pic.twitter.com/2LMPFe87cU
He then proceeded to warn Hezbollah’s Secretary General, Hassan Nasrallah, saying: "If he wants to harm the process - he is welcome. The price will be Lebanon - and I hope for their sake that he will not do it."
Gantz then pivoted to the tensions with the Palestinians and shared a conversation he had with the head of the Palestinian Authority, Abu Mazen. After his recounting of the unimpressive talk, Gantz continued by saying "I had a dream that Abu Mazen would not be here, and I told him that," he noted, "I said I'm sure he dreamed the same about me."
The final issue that came up during the defense minister's remarks is the American demand for the examination of the instructions to open fire rules. As it is the Israel Defense Forces has strict engagement policies when it comes to even return fire when being fired upon, the American administration of Joe Biden is pressing for Israel to go even further.
Please ask President Mahmoud Abbas, bagman for the Munich Massacre to review his rules of engagement. These two young soldiers prevented mass murder by a Palestinian terrorist headed for Tel Aviv with explosives. Lapid is not weak, neither is Gantz.https://t.co/YnWDMfdaDR
— Bertilak #JusticeForMalkiRoth (@Bertilak3) September 10, 2022
Gantz said: "There should be an examination of the instructions to open fire, and this happens all the time. The Chief of Staff is the one who determines the instructions to open fire in all areas. Israel's policy is very simple - we make every effort to reduce non-involved casualties on the one hand, and are committed to protecting our fighters as much as possible," he emphasized. "There should be no political interference in the instructions to open fire, but a value-based, permanent and strategic policy that Israel practices."
