Peretz: War results controvesial
Defense minister says Israel working ‘on all fronts to bring kidnapped soldiers home,’ adds: The fact that I’m staying on as defense minister is the correct move
Defense Minister Amir Peretz said Sunday that “if my resignation would contribute to something, I’d consider it. The fact that I’m staying on as defense minister is the correct move for the time being. We should not replace the important questions with personal ones.”
Peretz, who spoke to reporters during a visit to Haifa’s Rambam Hospital, added: “We consider the international community committed to bringing the kidnapped soldiers home. Remaining silent on this matter is worth gold.
“We are working on all fronts and channels – both open and covert. International elements from our delegations are working night and day to achieve goals in the north. There are also talks in the south (Gaza).
The defense minister explained once more why he supported the appointment of the Winograd Committee to probe the Lebanon war. According to Peretz, he decided to vote in favor of the committee after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert appointed a judge to head it and bequeathed it with wide-ranging authority.
'A different, stable reality'
Later, at a Labor party convention held in Haifa, Peretz said that "we are talking about a just war, but its results are controversial. I am ready for any inquiry. I want this to be done in the quickest way possible, so the deficiencies could be fixed and the army could return to its optimal readiness. I supported the government inquiry commision headed by Judge Winograd because we do not have the luxury of continuing the endless arguments about the nature of the committee."
Minister Peretz added that among the successes of the war stands the fact that unlike the past, "the international forces that are currently in Lebanon are serious, armed and determined. We see armored vehicles with French soldiers in Bint-Jbeil, jeeps with Spanish soldiers across the border and Italian soldiers patrolling the skies of Tyre.
“This is a different and stable reality from the one we had known during the six years since the IDF withdrew from Lebanon. The one thing which still clouds the atmosphere is the fact that the kidnapped soldiers did not return on the day the ceasefire agreement was signed. We will continue to demand from the international community to continue pressing for the implementation of resolution 1701. As far as we are concerned, the resolution is not complete until the kidnapped soldiers are returned."
Earleir on Sunday it was made known that the government wants to have the recent war in Lebanon referred to as a “battle,” as it was not approved by the government and its plans were not presented to the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, as is required by law.
