Minister Yossi Peled (Likud), speaking at an event in Beersheba, said Saturday that he believes Israel islikely to face another conflict on the northern border, although it is unclear exactly when.
"Although Hezbollah is part of the (Lebanese) government, it is unaffected by it. If there is another confrontation in the north, we will hold Syria andLebanon alike responsible," said the former GCO Northern Command chief.
The international community, he added, has failed to "manage Hezbollah," which is how it became more powerful now that it was prior to the Second Lebanon War .
In his opinion, he added, "Peace is not a goal but rather a primary objective: History has given us a historic gift – a Jewish home. If we lose it we won't get a second chance."
Israel's failures during the Second Lebanon War, he said, cannot be placed at the door of one man: "Saying (former IDF Chief) Dan Halutz ruined the military is easy. Halutz shares full responsibility, but you can't say he dismantled the IDF within seven months' time. That's just a basic misunderstanding.
"The assumption we didn’t need to deploy ground forces (during fighting) preceded him. You can't lay blame with him alone.
"I still don't think we can sleep soundly, but our readiness has definitely approved since Gabi Ashkenazi becameIDF chief."