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Photo: Eli Elgart
Ceremony marked new defense minister's entrance to post
Photo: Eli Elgart

Peretz takes up new role, reaches out to PA

Newly-appointed Defense Minister Peretz tells Palestinians: If you abandon terrorism we will make painful concessions

Amir Peretz has officially taken up the post of Defense Minister during a ceremony held in Tel Aviv on Sunday.

 

The Guard of Honor including members of the General Staff received the Labor chairman, after a meeting with outgoing defense minister Shaul Mofaz.

 

Video: Yaron Brenner

 

During his speech Peretz said. "I'll admit, for me this is a most moving moment. An hour ago, when I came here, into the camp named Yizhak Rabin, may his memory be blessed, on the way to the office of the defense minister, I remembered Rabin, who won all of the difficult battles he took part in, and was then murdered in the battle for peace. I am making my first steps in the Ministry of Defense, and with every step I feel the weight of responsibility getting stronger. I am entering in measured steps and with huge respect, but I plan on doing my work faithfully and without limit for the security of the State of Israel - for the security of its citizens."

 


Peretz with Halutz during ceremony (Photo: Eli Elgarat) 

 

Peretz added: "True, I am a defense minister with a civilian and social orientation, but I do not see a contradiction between these things. The reverse is true – because if the IDF is the people's army, this is how it must be kept, because this is the true value we hold in this special army of ours."

 

'Lower level of terrorism'  

 

The new defense minister said, "To our Palestinian neighbors we say: 'Not through the path of terror will you accomplish your goals. You must abandon the terrorism, combat incitement, and then you will again find the hand of the Israeli government extended towards you with a readiness to reach agreements, with the price of painful concessions'."

 

After 40 years of service in the IDF and the defense community, the voice of Mofaz shook with emotion. He said that the new defense minister must work to lower the level of terrorism so that Israel's citizens could go out to restaurants, ride buses, and feel secure. With that, he added that the security bodies of the State must also prepare for tomorrow's challenges, and to turn over every stone in order to reach negotiations with the Palestinians.

 

Chief of Staff Dan Halutz also welcomed the new defense minister, and said that the IDF will do everything to help Peretz. During his speech he also took a small swipe at Mofaz, when he said that the defense community was larger and more complex than the Transportation Ministry (Mofaz has been appointed to head the ministry). Mofaz replied by joking that he would "settle accounts with him."

 

Last Friday Peretz already authorized an Air Force attack on Popular Resistance Committees training facility in Gaza; five members were killed in the attack. On Sunday the defense minister overcame another hurdle with the clearing of families who had been illegally residing in a Hebron home. Peretz, who authorized the evacuation on Saturday, ordered that women and children be cleared from the premises first.  

 


פרסום ראשון: 05.07.06, 18:36
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