BICOM

IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz yesterday said that Israel must prepare for any scenario – including a conflict on multiple fronts.

Gantz referenced Sunday’s attack on southern Israel from the Sinai Peninsula as an additional concern to the already alarming Syrian civil war and Iranian nuclear threat. At a reservists tribute event, Gantz said, “The fitness, readiness and willingness of the reserves layout is of national importance. Just this week, we were reminded of how potentially volatile the state of security is.”

“The Sinai terror attack, as well as other regional developments, force the IDF to prepare for any scenario,” Gantz added.

Addressing the alerts prior to the Sinai attack, the IDF chief said, “We won’t always have early warning and that is why our preparation in events of these nature, both in routine and in wartime, depends on the fitness of the reserves to report for duty.”

The Chief of Staff also hinted at possible cuts in the defence budget that would potentially limit funds for reservists’ training and war fighting equipment, vowing to oppose such steps. He also alluded to the public debate over conscripting ultra-Orthodox and Israeli-Arab citizens for military service, saying that it was the duty “of all us, all of the IDF and all of society,” to recognise the sacrifices of “the minority that carries the burden out of a deep sense of service to the state.”