Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said at today’s cabinet meeting that Israel is holding to a policy of avoiding attacks on civilians, which is prolonging the actions, making them more difficult and even exacts a toll on the IDF. Most of today’s meeting was devoted to “Operation Defensive Shield”.
Sharon added, “This is a fateful campaign for our homes and that Israel has suffered more than a few fallen. We are all in this campaign which is decisive for the continued existence of a secure Israel. Our objective is hit the terrorist infrastructure as hard as possible. In order to achieve peace, there must be quiet. Security is the precondition for peace, the vision and desire of us all.”
Sharon emphasized that only if the terrorist infrastructure is hit can progress be made. He declared three key objectives: Guaranteeing the security of Israel’s citizens; preserving the national unity government; and preserving good relations with Israel’s friends, headed by the US.
“No one has the right to use the phrase ‘Criminals of Oslo’. The main thing is to stand together,” said Sharon.
Sharon made it clear that Israel has no intention of ruling Area A again. Minister of Defense Benjamin Ben-Eliezer told Sharon that Israel needs time to complete the campaign. “This must be made clear to the Americans. We have no intention of leaving the territories only to have to re-enter them later,” he said. Ben-Eliezer nevertheless made it clear that time is running out.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Shaul Mofaz the cabinet on the developments in the military campaign to this point, noting, “We have reached the point of no return, and we must not return to the security situation prior to ‘Operation Defensive Shield’. If we leave the territories and then have to re-enter them, it will be much harder and cost us heavier casualties.”
Mofaz estimated the IDF needs four to eight weeks to complete the operation. He noted four key aspects to the IDF operation: overcoming opposition wherever it exists; arresting wanted terrorists; collecting weapons and destroying the terrorist infrastructure; and preventing terrorist attacks as much as possible.
Mofaz said, “Everywhere the IDF is fighting, those fighting against us are arrested, captured or hit.”
Published by Israel's Business Arena on 7 April 2001