Français
Español
English
Portuguese
An IDF former chief of staff warned that an Israeli withdrawal from Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley would be a dangerous move.
By: Ruthie Blum, The Algemeiner
A former deputy chief of staff of the Israeli army said that any decision to withdraw the IDF from Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley before the situation in the Middle East stabilizes would be “irresponsible.”
This was among many assessments made by Maj.-Gen. (res.) Yair Naveh during an interview with Israel Radio’s Esti Perez on Thursday.
Naveh also explained why he was, and still is, critical of Operation Protective Edge, Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza in the summer of 2014.
“[Israel] was playing on a different field from Hamas,” Naveh said. “We were trying to achieve a military victory, while Hamas was seeking political gains.”
Under such circumstances, he said, when two sides are after different goals, the whole notion of deterrence becomes irrelevant.
“What is clear to me is that Hamas’ main objective is preserving its survival as an organization.”
Therefore, he said, “In any confrontation with the group, past or future, it is its survival that Israel has to threaten. And it has to be made to understand that it is not immune…We certainly shouldn’t have said, as we did during the war, that we have no intention of harming its rule in Gaza.”
Naveh took issue with the notion that if Israel defeats Hamas, “a crueler ruler will follow.” This is the “wrong approach,” he said, adding, “Gaza is a human tragedy… with nothing but high birth and unemployment rates.”
Asked by Perez when the next war with Hamas will take place, he said, “I hope there won’t be one.”
Regarding plans to construct an underground wall to separate Israel from Gaza, Naveh expressed skepticism about its effectiveness, due to the great depths of some of the Hamas tunnels. However, he said, borrowing from an old adage, “Good walls make for good neighbors.”
Questioned about IDF Military Intelligence chief Maj.-Gen. Herzi Halevi’s comments about Hezbollah at this week’s annual Herzliya Conference – that Israel is “better prepared than ever” to confront the Lebanon-based Shi’ite terrorist organization serving as an Iranian proxy — Naveh likened Israeli deterrence in the North to that of the South.
Sign the Petition to Stop Funding the Palestinian Authority
Petition to the United States and European Union
We demand that all funding of the PA be stopped immediately. The brutal murder of Israelis committed by Palestinian terrorists throughout Israel is the latest result of ongoing PA incitement against Israeli citizens. Funding the PA means funding terror.
See our Privacy PolicyDo You Love Israel? Make a Donation - Show Your Support!
Donate to vital charities that help protect Israeli citizens and inspire millions around the world to support Israel too!
Now more than ever, Israel needs your help to fight and win the war -- including on the battlefield of public opinion.
Antisemitism, anti-Israel bias and boycotts are out of control. Israel's enemies are inciting terror and violence against innocent Israelis and Jews around the world. Help us fight back!
