Chief of Staff: IDF will act firmly to thwart attacks in south
Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz visits the Egypt border; says peace with Egypt "has great strategic importance"

Israel Defense Forces
August 26, 2011

http://www.jewishpolicycenter.org/2445/chief-of-staff-idf-will-act-firmly-to-thwart

Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Benny Gantz visited the western portion of the Israel-Egypt border on Friday (August 26).

Lt. Gen. Gantz was accompanied on the visit by Southern Command officers, including GOC Southern Command, Major General Tal Russo.

During the visit, Lt. Gen. Gantz met with soldiers operating in the sector and was briefed by commanders on threats in the area as well as on the readiness of IDF forces.

"Residents of the border region rely on us to protect them," Lt. Gen. Gantz said. "Terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip are exploiting the security situation in Sinai to use it as a springboard to execute attacks on the border with Israel."

"Peace with Egypt has great strategic importance," Lt. Gen. Gantz added.

Later, Lt. Gen. Gantz met with the head of the Eshkol Regional Council, which is near the Gaza Strip and has been hit by numerous rockets and mortars over the past week.

"The IDF will act with determination to thwart efforts to attack the residents of the south," Lt. Gen. Gantz said.

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