Changes to the Israel Defense Forces after controversial budget cuts are “revolutionary,” and, in the end, will produce “a different IDF,” Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon said on Thursday.
Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon (R) looks into Syria on tour of Golan Heights – Photo: Ariel Hermoni, Defense Ministry spokesman
In a statement to the press, Ya’alon stated that the cuts are being made in light of regional threats, and have been pitted against advances in technology.
Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon hinted Wednesday that Israel may call up its combat soldiers for a major operation in the near future.
Yaalon spoke as he and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu observed a Golani Brigade drill in the Golan.
“I was impressed by the Golani Brigade’s capability, preparedness and skill,” he said.
“Golani, like many other IDF combat units, is likely to be called to operational service on short notice,” he added. “That’s why this exercise, like other drills in recent days, has special meaning at this time and in this place.” Continue Reading »
By Yitzhak Benhorin
Washington – Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon slammed the Arab League peace initiative in his speech at the Washington Institute in the US, and called it a ‘spin.’
Defense Cheifs Ya’alon & Hagel – Photo: Yaron Brener
Ya’alon claimed the initiative is a dictation, and said Israel is always willing to return to the negotiation table, barring preconditions and dictations.
Earlier this week Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the time has come to end the “squabbling over preconditions” and resume negotiations. Continue Reading »
By Gil Ronen
Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon explained Saturday evening that he had decided to block Palestinian Authority official Jibril Rajoub’s entry to Israel before the Meretz party invited him to its conference.
Meretz head Zehava Galon that the defense ministry’s refusal to allow Rajoub into the country in order to take part in the conference smacked of politicking. She noted that Rajoub had recently been allowed to speak before the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS).
The defense minister made it clear that this was not the case, in a Facebook status message he published Saturday evening. Continue Reading »
Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon has given the green light to a plan to build a new Palestinian Authority Arab city which will take away 2,000 dunams of Israeli land, the Ma’ariv daily reported on Friday.
Construction of West Bank barrier – Photo: Reuters
Two weeks ago, the newspaper reported that the Civil Administration for Judea and Samaria is working diligently on advanced plans for establishing a new PA city near Jericho. Continue Reading »
Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon has frozen a plan to build a new Palestinian Authority Arab city which would have taken away 2,000 dunams of Israeli land, the Ma’ariv daily reported on Tuesday.
The ‘Oldest City in the World’ – Jericho
Yaalon’s decision came a day after the same newspaper reported that the Civil Administration for Judea and Samaria is working diligently on advanced plans for establishing a new PA city near Jericho.
Ma’ariv reported that Nu’aimah, as the city stands to be called, is intended to house tens of thousands of residents and that Israel will transfer close to 2,000 dunam (500 acres) of land from the Jordan Valley Regional Council to the PA for the ambitious project. Continue Reading »
Israel was struck twice on Tuesday by cross-border fire from Syria. In the first incident, a mortal shell exploded in the Tel Fares area of the Golan Heights on Tuesday evening. Shortly afterward, Israeli soldiers near the Tel Hazeka military post came under fire from Syria. There were no injuries or damage in either incident.
By Chana Ya’ar
Israel warned Sunday that the days of restraint in the face of cross-border fire from Syria are finished.
Moshe Ya’alon – Photo: Reuters
Israel will respond to any shooting or other attacks that cross the northern border with Syria, Defense Minister Moshe “Bogie” Ya’alon warned.
“Any violation of Israeli sovereignty and fire from the Syrian side will be answered immediately with the destruction of the source of fire when we identify it,” Ya’alon declared. Continue Reading »
Moran Azulay
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed Likud Knesset Member Moshe Ya’alon that he will be replacing Ehud Barak as defense minister.
Ya’alon, who currently serves as minister of strategic affairs, was one of several Likud members who were summoned to the Prime Minister’s Office Sunday morning. Many of the lawmakers from the ruling party expected a promotion.
“During such a crucial time for the security of the State of Israel, when everything is in turmoil around us, it is important that a man with Moshe Ya’alon’s experience hold this position,” Netanyahu said. Continue Reading »
By Gil Ronen
Vice Prime Minister and Minister for Strategic Affairs Moshe Yaalon (Likud / Yisrael Beytenu) said Saturday evening that the steps taken against “Prisoner X” Ben Zygier were necessary in order to save lives.
“We are a unique country in terms of our security situation,” Yaalon told Channel 2‘s Meet the Press.”
Asked why Zygier was arrested, he said, “Out of considerations of pikuach nefesh [the halakhic precept that refers to the saving of lives], we needed to take such a step.
By Gil Ronen
Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Yaalon ruled out on Saturday the establishment of a “Palestinian” state next to Israel.
In a live interview panel in the Southern Sharon regional authority, Yaalon explained that it makes no difference what the “Palestinian” entity calls itself. “It can call itself the Palestinian empire for all I care,” he said. “The goals of the Authority’s head, Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas), are identical to those of Hamas.
“I began voting for Likud when I was still wearing a uniform, when I was Head of Military Intelligence, after I gained extensive familiarity with the Oslo Agreement,” Yaalon revealed. Continue Reading »
Israel warned Syrian President Bashar Assad on Friday to prevent his anti-insurgency sweeps from spilling over into the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, saying it was prepared to defend itself.
Smoke rises from the eastern Damascus suburbs of Arbeen, after what activists say was an airstrike by a MIG fighter jet, November 8, 2012. – Photo by Reuters
The Golan, lost by Damascus in the 1967 Middle East war and mostly quiet for decades, was repeatedly hit by what the Israelis described as stray Syrian ordnance this week. Continue Reading »
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