Amir Peretz
Photo: Eli Elgarat
Peretz to Defense Ministry employees: I'm staying put
After much talk about a portfolio shake up in cabinet, Defense Minister Amir Peretz tells employees of his office in ceremony for Jewish New Year that he has no intention of leaving his position
Peretz told his employees Monday that "it seems that after the war, people are looking for media stories. First I would like to make it clear that not only do I intend to continue serving as Minister of Defense, it is my wish to do so."
Peretz added that "the Ministry's employees will take this crisis and turn it around into a new opportunity." According to him, "there is no reason for us to define the war in Lebanon as a failure. I do think, however that there is a lot to say about some of the events that took place during the war."
"The bottom line is simple: When we see that Hizbullah is not on the fence, when we see French and Spanish armored forces together with the Lebanese national army in south Lebanon, these are all important strategic achievements," Peretz added.
On the subject of peace, Peretz said that he believes that the security establishment is capable of providing a solution for the security issues of the country, but also to provide the infrastructure for political settlements. "As long as the balance of power is kept in our favor, the less our enemies would choose to enter into conflict with us. A country which does not leave hope for negotiations, saying that it will live by the sword only, is a country which takes away the hopes for a better future," he stated.
