Northern Command chief: Reports of tension in north are virtual reality
Major-General Eisenkot says IDF exercises along Lebanese border meant to 'maintain the quiet'; dismisses Nasrallah threats as 'empty slogans'
"The media reports on tensions in the north are virtual reality. We are in the process of continual preparedness and many exercises that are meant to maintain the quiet," Northern Command Chief Major-General Gadi Eisenkot said Sunday at a gathering of the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv.
"Hezbollah has not carried out any terror attacks since the Second Lebanon War, but it is growing stronger and we are preparing for any scenario. We will know how to act effectively," said Eisenkot.
On Friday London-based Arabic-language al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper reported that Hezbollah has raised the alert level among its fighters due to maneuvers conducted by the Israel Defense Forces in northern Israel,.
According to the report, the Shiite organization has instructed its men to take "general precautionary measures" for fear of a sudden Israeli attack targeting Hezbollah's headquarters and post.
Eisenkot dismissed Hassan Nasrallah's statement according to which his group would "change the face of the region" in the event of renewed conflict with Israel as an "empty slogan", saying the Hezbollah secretary-general "would gladly return to June 11, 2006 (before Lebanon war)."
The Northern Command chief noted Iran's increasing involvement in south Lebanon, saying it was investing hundreds of millions of dollars in training Hezbollah fighters and supplying the Shiite group with arms.
Minister Yossi Peled (Likud) said Saturday, "We are moving towards another round in the north, but I don't know when, just as no one else knows. We also didn't know when the Second Lebanon War would breakout."
In a bid to downplay Peled's comments, the Prime Minister's Office said, "The State of Israel does not want any confrontation with Lebanon," adding that Israel seeks peace with its neighbors.
