IDF Homefront Commander Major-General Eyal Eisenberg stated that recent events in the region including the coups in Arab countries and the deterioration of relations between Israel and Turkey could be pointing to a regional war. He adds that Iran continues forging ahead with its nuclear program and terrorists in Gaza are increasing their stockpile of weapons, having acquired better armaments then seen in the past. He also commented on the fact that last week, Israel sent two warships to the Egyptian border area as events in that country continue to unfold.

“It looks like the Arab Spring, but it can also be a radical Islamic winter,” he said in a speech at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv.

The senior IDF officer did not leave out Hizbullah, confirming that the once terrorist army has become a formidable enemy, supported by the government of Lebanon while back at home, about 25% of local municipalities simply are not prepared for the eventuality of a war.

The Office of the IDF Spokesperson stated the remarks made by Eisenberg do not represent an assessment of the situation by IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz or the General Staff, adding Eisenberg is new to the General Staff and his first exposure to the fire –the responsibility of making such statements in a public forum, concluding that if made in the proper context, his words do not contradict reality.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak played down the senior officer’s words as well, stating he does not see any reason for Israel’s enemies to initiate a major conflict in the near future. He also warned against the use of chemical weapons against Israel, “now and in the future”, stating such a move would have dire consequences. The minister made his comments while touring Israel’s border with Syria on Tuesday morning.

Commenting on the violence in Syria, Barak believes the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is coming to its end, a reality that will be seen in the coming months, adding such a reality will deliver a powerful blow to Hizbullah and Iran.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)