Barak: Soldiers made up for senior officer's mistakes

Defense Minister Ehud Barak praised the conduct of IDF combat troops during the Second Lebanon War on Wednesday evening at a ceremony marking three years since the fighting ended. "The soldiers and commanders in the field showed courage, resourcefulness and camaraderie…Their daring made up for the mistakes of the top ranks more than once," Barak said at the state service on Mt. Herzl. "

"It has only been three years, a mere blink in historical terms, but it seems like it has been ages upon ages. The Second Lebanon War lies in the collective Israeli conscious, an eye-opening jolt. One fact

transcends all the polemics and criticism – the IDF's soldiers headed out to this mission knowing what the home front knew as well – that we must respond.

"The State of Israel does not crave war; there is strength in restraint," Barak said. "You need to know how to tolerate it to a certain extent, out of broader political considerations or a genuine desire to avoid military confrontation, (war) must be a last resort. Israel is seen in the eyes of (Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah) as weak and paralyzed. The restraint the state imposed on itself garnered it international credit and a valuable calm, but Hezbollah put a malicious interpretation on this restraint."

The defense minister added that Israel was able to restore its deterrence, and noted that the northern border has been quiet since the fighting ended. He warned however that the situation was still volatile. "Hezbollah is steadily rearming itself, and the threat of escalation has yet to be lifted. We are monitoring the situation in the North closely, and we have made it clear that the Lebanese government legitimizes Hezbollah, and as a state it (Lebanon) will bear the responsibility for any future action (Hezbollah) takes against Israel."

Barak also discussed the lessons the army has drawn from the war, saying: "Under the leadership of Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, the IDF has undergone a process of reinvigoration, it has improved its capabilities, the IDF has strengthened its belief in itself and the public's belief as well. We could see the results in Operation Cast Lead. The leading principle we have set for ourselves could not be clearer – try to avoid war, but if are forced into one, we will assure a decisive and unequivocal victory against any enemy."

Rivlin: Maybe we did not want to know

Also at the service were Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin, and Opposition Chairwoman Tzipi Livni, who served as foreign minister during the war.

"In many wars, this terrible war opened our eyes," Rivlin said. "We were forced to take off our blindfold, the one that kept from us the real reality of what was going on across the border – the nests of terrorists, the weapons stockpiles and the bunkers. We knew, but maybe we did not want to know.

"This war also opened the army's eyes inward. Everyone, I believe, drew valuable lessons," Rivlin said. "This war was controversial. It may be remembered for its failures, but even today we understand that as long as we desire to live – we will have to live by our swords."

The Knesset speaker also touched on the heavy price paid by the home front, and the civilian and military lives lost.