Ophir Pines-Paz
Photo: Gabi Menashe
'We must not be influenced by international pressure.' Ezra
Photo: Hagi Aharon
Minister: No ground offensive even if Tel Aviv attacked
Ophir Pines-Paz says ‘situation on the ground won’t be altered by force alone; diplomatic efforts must accompany the military operations’; Minister Ezra: It makes no difference whether they attack Tel Aviv, Haifa or any other city – Israeli must defend itself
Science, Technology, and Culture Minister Ophir Pines-Paz said following Monday’s rocket barrages on Haifa and Galilee communities that “a ground operation in Lebanon should not even be a possibility, even if Hizbullah steps up its attacks against Israel’s home front.”
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“I do not want to even think of the possibility that Hizbullah will attack Gush Dan (central Israel), but either way, no one is suggesting a ground operation at present time,” Paz-Pines said.
“The situation on the ground won’t be altered by force alone; diplomatic efforts must accompany the military operations. The Israeli government must act so the international community will pressure Lebanon into deploying its forces on the border.”
Environment Minister Gideon Ezra, for his part, said “it makes no difference whether they attack Tel Aviv, Haifa or any other city – Israeli must defend itself,” adding that the IDF operation in Lebanon should not be limited in time.
“The offensive must continue until we obtain our goals,” he said. “We must not be influenced by international pressure – if and when it comes. We must tell the world: We will not accept a situation in which entire Israeli cities are under the threat of terror groups’ rocket attacks.”
