Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas are continuing to battle it out publicly. After being blamed by Abbas for the stalemate in the peace negotiations, Barak had some harsh words of his own for the Palestinian leader, saying "we are still a long way off from an agreement with Abbas despite the fact that Israel is making every effort to reach it," the defense minister said during a visit to the IDF Southern Command.
"If we do not reach an agreement, it will not be because of Israel's lackof willingness to compromise with him (Abbas) but because the Palestinian side is not willing to make the tough decisions for its people, and is currently incapable of establishing the institutions necessary to enforcing the rule of law and combat terror," he said.
Barak, who was accompanied by Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi ,added that the IDF would "operate wherever the Palestinian Authority does not in order to protect the citizens of Israel."
The defense minister said during his meeting with soldiers and their commanding officers that Israel has not changed its method of operation vis-à-vis Gaza. "These young men here (soldiers) will soon be called upon to prepare for another operation and eventually win this conflict," he said.
As for the possibility that Hizbullah willseek revenge for the recent assassination of its top commander Imad Mugniyah inDamascus, Barak stated that "We are still the strongest country (in the region), and we are prepared on all fronts. We can definitely expect some elements to try and hurt Israelis."