“The defense establishment faces and will continue facing significant challenges in the coming years from a number of fronts, both near and far along our borders from neighboring and non-neighboring nations” stated Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon during an Independence Day ceremony.

The senior minister added that in recent years, conventional threats have diminished since there is no army in the area interested or willing to take on the IDF and its deterrence capabilities. This however does not mean the magnitude of the threats have diminished he added, explaining they have simply changed. He mentioned rocket and cyber attacks as examples, acknowledging mounting efforts to penetrate and compromise Israel’s computer network.

“Hizbullah and Hamas are armed with tens of thousands of different rockets and when commanded to do so, they will fire them into our civilian population centers.”

“While Hizbullah during recent months has been busy with its involvement in defending the crumbling Assad regime in Syria, it remains ready for another conflict with Israel backed by Iran and Syria. Hizbullah is the military arm of the Tehran regime, which is involved in Syria and the threat against Israel.”

Regarding the threat of non-conventional weapons from Syria falling into the hands of Hizbullah, Ya’alon added the “civil war in Syria is merciless and the Global Jihad may strike out against us along the Golan Heights border and we must remain ready at all times.”

Regarding the Iranian nuclear threat, he feels “The State of Israel does not have to lead the effort against Iran…the international community at large must lead this effort but Israel must be ready for any and every eventuality, including the possibility of defending herself alone. We must be ready for possibility having to act militarily without assistance.”

In an Independence Day interview IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz was asked if Israel has the ability to attack Iran alone, to which he responded, “yes, without a doubt”. He added Israel continues to monitor the Iranian threat and remains in close contact with American officials, adding US Secretary of Defense Jack Hagel is scheduled to arrive for his first official visit in the coming days. Gantz told Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) that the defense budget allocated in 2014 will be critical towards determining the level of Israel’s deterrence capabilities.

AFP reports that the US remains committed to investing an additional $400 million in the joint Iron Dome program with Israel.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)