TEL AVIV - The IDF is prepared for all possible pullout scenarios, including the prospect of renewed Palestinian violence and the threat of internal clashes, IDF Chief-of-Staff Moshe (Bugi) Yaalon told Ynet Wednesday.
In a special interview ahead of Independence Day, the soon-departing army chief said he could not guarantee a better future is in store for Israelis in the face of the dangers still lurking in the shadows.
Still, Yaalon rejected the notion that the disengagement plan should be characterized as a “gamble,” saying the plan entails risks, but also opens up new possibilities.
During the interview, Yaalon also replied to one question in English, for the benefit of Ynetnews readers.
While attempting to contain his bitterness over the manner in which his term was cut short, it is clear Yaalon would have liked to lead the IDF into what is shaping up as one of the toughest challenges in the army’s history.
“I will be available to those who want to consult with me,” he said.
In three months, police officers and soldiers will enter a house in Neve Dekalim. They will find a mother holding her crying baby, with the father and other children tied to chairs, holding bibles, and asking to pray in peace. At the same time, the Palestinians will be firing mortar shells from Khan Younis. Is the IDF prepared for such scenario?
We are prepared for this scenario, too. We have been preparing for a long time in fact…there are forces tasked with responding to mortar fire and forces tasked with implementing the evacuation of settlers.
Would the entire operation be disrupted if a person opposed to the evacuation fired and hit a member of the security forces?
I hope it doesn’t happen, and I estimate that in the overwhelming majority of cases it won’t happen. I hope it doesn’t happen at all, but we are preparing for this possibility and will know how to contain the situation.
What will happen if the Palestinians direct heavy fire (at settlements) during the evacuation, beyond a single explosive device or sniper fire?
In the event this happens, there are forces assigned solely to offer a response to such scenarios, and they will act.
And the evacuation may be put on hold for some time?
Everything depends on the situation assessment, but there will be forces who will act solely for the purpose of neutralizing this type of threat.
Once the evacuation is complete, do you propose that residents of communities around Gaza get ready for attacks?
It’s hard to predict what will happen. Of course, everything must be done to ensure complete quiet during the exit. But you never know, and therefore we, as a military, prepare for all the possibilities.
In recent months, every time Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz was asked how Israel would look in a year, following the disengagement’s completion, he expressed optimism on the security, economic, and even social front.
The soon-departing army chief, however, is not as enthusiastic.
Is this move (disengagement) in fact a sort of “gamble” in your eyes?
It’s certainly inappropriate to characterize it as a gamble. It’s not the type of word that should be used. We have here a decision that very clearly embodies risks and also opportunities. This is how we’ve viewed it along the way. Our job is to do everything to improve the chances, but we cannot guarantee what will happen.
Where will you be during the plan’s implementation?
I haven’t decided yet
Do you see yourself calling incoming Army Chief Halutz and giving him advice?
I will be available to those who want to consult with me, but I still haven’t decided where I’ll be
Will you be in Israel?
I still don’t know.
Currently we are in the midst of a very delicate cease-fire. How sensitive is the situation and might we revert to the same situation we were facing several months ago, that is, a return to armed conflict?
This depends very much on the Palestinian side, and particularly terror elements on the Palestinian side…for the time being, the (Palestinian) Authority allows the Hamas and Islamic Jihad to remain armed.
Each one of the terror elements approach (the truce) differently. The Hamas is very committed to the calm, the Islamic Jihad carries out attacks here and there, less than in the past, but it doesn’t have the same commitment as the Hamas.
Fatah members, some of which have accepted the calm and some have not, are directed by the Hezbollah, as are the Popular Resistance Committees…there is certainly a considerable difference between the current situation and what was happening 4-5 months ago, but without a doubt this is not absolute quiet yet.
Finally, Yaalon answered one answer in English, for the benefit of Ynetnews readers.
In light of the relative quiet these days in the territories, and in spite of all the sensitivities, as we move towards the disengagement plan and perhaps along with the current events in Lebanon, are we facing a better, more secure future? Will Israel be a better and safer country to live in?
Looking back to our 57 years of independence, I believe that we can be satisfied that we have succeeded in achieving a better security situation…Israel is no doubt considered a regional superpower, not only in military terms, but in terms of science, technology, economy, and of course in military terms. So I believe that looking to the future…we will be in a safer, better situation, and the IDF will do its utmost to achieve this goal.
Video footage: Shai Rosenzweig