In a special Independence Day interview with Yediot Achronot, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz stated the military stands ready and if an attack is launched against Iran, the IDF is ready for action.

The military commander explained that regarding Iran, 2012 will be a critical year, explaining that for Israel a nuclear Iran is a non-starter. He stated that Israel is the only country in the world about which someone calls for its destruction and then begins to build the weaponry to make good on those words. He added that this is not to say that he is sending the air force to Iran at this moment.

He was asked if he sees the current situation as an existential threat against the State of Israel, to which he responded “the potential exists but in my opinion, this is not the current situation”.

When asked to comment on the northern and southern fronts, Ganz stated “I cannot promise rockets will not fall. They will fall; many rockets and this war will not be a simple matter – not on the front and not the homefront. Nevertheless, I do not recommend that anyone test us. When [Hizbullah leader Hassan] Nasrallah leaves his bunker he is quite concerned [for his safety] and this is for good reason. He saw what occurred in Lebanon the last time and this is not close to what will happen in Lebanon the next time. I think they understand this very well”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)