Prime Minister Ehud Olmert today visited the IDF Gaza Division and met with officers and soldiers.  He was accompanied by Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai, IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Gaby Ashkenazi and GOC Southern Command Maj.-Gen. Yoav Galant.
 
Prime Minister Olmert was briefed by GOC Gaza Division Brig.-Gen. Moshe Tamir, Brig.-Gen. Yoav Satrik and battalion commanders serving in the area.  They discussed recent events in the south, as well as military operations and activities in the Gaza district and along Israel’s southwestern border. 
 
Following the briefing, Prime Minister Olmert met with soldiers from the Golani Brigade’s 12th Battalion.  He told the soldiers: “I am pleased that I have this opportunity to personally thank you, both on my behalf and that of the Government, for the splendid work that you are doing here.  There is a war going on in the south of the country and people in the center do not always feel it or understand it.  When there is a laconic report that the IDF has struck at terrorists, not many can estimate the scope of the IDF activity and the security forces behind it.  You have foiled countless terrorist actions that could have caused many civilian casualties.  In the past three months, we have killed approximately 130 terrorists.  To our great joy, casualties on our side have been very low.  You are brave and determined fighters with an uncommon motivation that allows you to operate day and night without respite.  You asked me about budgets and you asked for a supplement for purchasing advanced equipment.  I can tell you that we passed a defense budget for the next ten years with a supplement of NIS 100 billion.  While this plan covers many units and must answer the needs of various security force units, I am certain that by my next visit here, you will be able to tell me that there has been an improvement on this issue as well.”