“My civilian and social point of view contributes to the way I view Israel’s defense,” said Minister of Defense Amir Peretz at the Israel Democracy Institute's 15th Annual Economic Forum Special Winter Session, on February 13th, 2007.
The Minister of Defense said that he bears the responsibility of and is required to decide upon priorities: "The defense budget’s scope is always too limited to cover many important issues." He stated that he does not intend to criticize Ministers of defense who have preceded him, only the way in which they grasped risk management.
The last war turned the home front into a battlefront, and as part of the lessons learned from the war, he initiated the creation of an expert team which will soon present its conclusions.
The Minister is certain that his civilian and social point of view contribute to the way he views Israel’s defense, although he does not diminish the contribution of those who possess substantial military experience.
Two weeks ago, Amir Peretz decided to expand the aspect of an active anti-missile system, after examining all possible alternatives. He is, in general, searching for an optimal means of defense that will protect the home front within a reasonable time-frame.
The State of Israel is, in his opinion, far from a calm state of national security. The Iranian threat is existential for Israel, along with the Hamas and the Hezbollah. The Gulf States, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt are more moderate. "We need to give peace a chance without infringing our right to self-defense," he said.
Peretz stated that Israel expects Lebanon to fulfill its obligations in order to prevent the recurrence of aggression on behalf of the Hezbollah.
Tomorrow, Gabi Ashkenazi will officially begin his duties as the IDF’s 19th Chief of General Staff. Peretz stated that we mustn’t repeat the “festival” that characterized the end of the last Chief’s term, which centered on the question of whether he would continue to serve. Therefore, Peretz has decided to extend Ashkenazi’s term in advance to four years. Peretz is certain that this measure will help stabilize the defense system and the Chief’s standing and maintains that the new Chief of General Staff is suitable for the position. Ashkenazi now faces the following challenges:
- Implementing the lessons learned from the last war
- Continuing the war against terror
- Being prepared for escalating belligerence with the Palestinians and with Hezbollah in the North
- Increasing power, advancing technologically, and developing weapons
We also need to provide the Palestinians with a real and honest alternative to the anarchy of the Palestinian Authority, Peretz declared. We are following the developments in Mecca, and we demand that the State of Israel be recognized.
The Minister further stated that he will not succumb to the trend of searching for guilty parties, instead of searching for solutions.