DM Mofaz: Israel Will React With Full Power After First Rocket From West Bank

2005-08-16

Aaron Lerner

Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said in a live appearance this evening on Israel Television Channel One's "Politics" program that he expects the security situation to improve and "quiet" significantly after Israel completes its withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

When the program host noted Military Intelligence Director Aharon Zeevi Farkash's warning today that the Palestinians were exploiting this period to develop and expand their strength and that rockets can be expected to be fired from the West Bank in the future, Mofaz retorted that the IDF would respond harshly with all of its force to destroy the source of fire after the very first rocket is shot.

The program host noted that he has been in the news business for many years and he can still recall how virtually the same warning was given with regards to how the IDF would respond to Palestinian mortar or rocket fire. "And the first time there was an attack we went into "open broadcast" mode, with everyone waiting to see what the response would be. And now, many thousands of mortar and rocket attacks later, they still can't be stopped."

Mofaz replied that "this time it will be different."

Participants in the panel that followed the Mofaz interview from both the Left (including Shlomo Ben Ami) and Right agreed that under the post-disengagement scenario Mr. Sharon has proposed that terror can be expected to increase.

Source: IMRA – Independent Media Review and Analysis