World Tribune.com
Saint-Gaudens

Israel elite forces focus on larger war, not Palestinian conflict

Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Friday, June 1, 2001

TEL AVIV — A leading Israeli military commander said the Middle East is approaching a regional war.

Brig. Gen. Yisrael Ziv, chief infantry and paratroop officer, acknowledged that elite Israeli units are not participating in the current war with the Palestinians. Ziv said these units are training for the prospect of an Arab-Israeli war in the Middle East.

"We are not so far from this [war]," Ziv said. "The Israel Defense Forces must be prepared for the possibility and those above it must see to it that this possibility is not realized."

It was the second time in less than a week that a senior Israeli commander said the Jewish state was preparing for war. On Friday, Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Shaul Mofaz said Israel is preparing for what he termed "the deterioration in the situation." Mofaz said war could break out in several months or a year.

"There are no signs at the moment of war," Mofaz told the Jerusalem Post. "Perhaps there will be in a few more months or another year. I don't know."

For his part, Ziv said the Arabs, including the Palestinians and the Lebanese Hizbullah, are searching for Israel's vulnerable points. The brigadier said Palestinian attacks on Israeli motorists is the result of gains made by the military that denies Palestinian attacks in other areas. "Every field in that we achieve success brings them to enter another sphere," Ziv said.

In Netanya, a Palestinian blew up a car bomb outside a school on Wednesday. Six students were treated for shock. Later, Palestinian gunners resumed mortar attacks on Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon convened his security Cabinet to discuss the continuation of the unilateral ceasefire. Government sources said Sharon is not under pressure by his senior ministers to end the ceasefire.

Sharon is said to have urged his ministers that Arafat wants Israel to launch a massive offensive so that he can obtain international intervention in the conflict. But at least one coalition partner has threatened to bolt from the government unless Sharon ends the ceasefire.

"We have to go into Area A [PA territory] and destroy the entire military infrastructure," National Infrastucture Minister Avigdor Lieberman said.

On late Wednesday, Israel and the Palestinian Authority held another security meeting. A PA official reported slight progress and the two sides agreed to continue meeting.

Friday, June 1, 2001


See current edition of

Return toWorld Tribune.com's Front Cover
Your window on the world

Contact World Tribune.com at world@worldtribune.com