IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Benny Gantz said Wednesday that "the Navy may be the smallest corps, but it's the branch that allows Israel to act with precision, quietly and safely in any point in the Middle East."
Gantz made the statements at a Haifa Navy cadets course graduation ceremony. Defense Minister Ehud Barak ,who also attended the event, added that the "IDF stands strong, ready and willing to act in Israel's defense at any time and any geographical distance."
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According to Barak, Israel's army faces "complex challenges, near and afar, some of which are the most complex the IDF has ever known. The State of Israel is strong, confident and trusting of its defense force – the IDF."
Gantz noted that in light of the development of the Arab states' naval capabilities, "the Navy is becoming a decisive factor in our preparation for various scenarios – in routine, emergency and war."
Navy Commander Major-General Ram Rotenberg said that "the Navy has set a target to rule above and below water level. The Middle East is turbulent and we must be alert and ready."