Just ahead of Rosh Hashanah, the IDF issued a statement summarizing their activities over the past year and describing how they are preparing for the coming year. The statement said that the IDF does not expect international enemies to open a direct military confrontation with Israel in the coming year, however there is a strong chance that the security situation in the south will get worse.

As part of the announcement, the IDF stated that they have attacked and destroyed more than 200 Iranian targets in Syria over the past year. The Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot, has also told the cabinet that the IDF is prepared for a war, should the eventuality arise.

The IDF sees the situation in the south getting worse rather than getting better as residents of Gaza will now become more desperate due to the U.S. discontinuing its funding for UNRWA. The IDF believes that an alternate solution to UNRWA should be given in order to prevent a humanitarian collapse in the Gaza Strip. This follows the IDF’s strategy that providing the Palestinians in the Strip and Judea and Samaria with a better way of life is in the strategic best interests of Israel.

The statement also said that the government should dismantle the 19 refugee camps that are still operational in the Judea and Samaria. “A strong Palestinian Authority that is fully operational and can provide the Palestinians with necessary services is one of Israel’s best interests.

The IDF has also completed one-third of the underground obstacle that will prevent terror tunnels along the entire Gaza border, and within the next year, the entirety of the obstacle will be complete. This year, some 15 terror tunnels have been located and destroyed along the border.

(YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem)