Minister of Defense, my friend, Mr. Amir Peretz,
Chief of General Staff,
Commander of the College,
President of the University,
Teachers of the National Security College,
And most importantly, Graduates and Families,
You are a large and illustrious group of people, serving in various fields of national service, first and foremost, in the security system, but also in supporting and important civilian services. The question we must ask is whether we will be wise enough to utilize your feeling of being emissaries, your skills, your consideration, your patriotism, your love of Israel, so that we can, together, provide the State of Israel with more accomplishments, more successes, more prosperity and more progress. I hope we will rise to the challenge of their good will, their talent and the awareness of the mission that they place before us.
We are in the midst of difficult days. However, I believe that they represent the opportunity for something else, which is growing and ripening in this atmosphere which is saturated with distress, but also much determination and valor.
I look at this group of graduates of the National Security College, who – as I said earlier – represent the huge potential of the State of Israel in its unusual combination of the various systems with the security, military and civilian systems, just as – at this moment – in the State of Israel, the fighting represents the wonderful combination of military might and the strength of our civilians.
The wars of the past few years are different from anything we experienced in the past. In the past, wars took place on faraway battlefields. The people, the country, the public was removed from them, and was eager to hear what was happening, was anxious to know how our soldiers were fighting in the great distances that existed between them and the normal pace of life of the nation. Today, the location of the battlefields has changed – they are both here and there, faraway and in our homes – and the fighters are in uniforms, but they are also each and every citizen who is in the range of fighting and firing.
To both groups, we must say that, today, the State of Israel is succeeding in the campaign and making impressive gains, which may be unprecedented. I could say, but have no intention of saying, that if the military campaign were to end today, even today we could say with certainty that the face of the Middle East has changed following the great achievement of the State of Israel, the Israeli army and the people of Israel. For many years, we lived with this threat, which created a balance of unreasonable and unimaginable terror between ourselves and our neighbors to the north. For years we lived with the perception that every clash, every confrontation, every random exchange of fire could – Heaven forbid – expose the greater public in the State of Israel to a concrete threat of fatal fire from the north. More than once, this threat and this concern influenced our lifestyles and our decision-making.
Three weeks ago, the State of Israel decided that it refused to live under this menacing cloud, and was ready to face it with courage and determination. This decision and the show of national unity, the fortitude of the home front and the valor of our soldiers in the various sectors changed the face of things, and this change will leave its seal on the Middle East for years to come.
Twenty one days ago, the Hizbollah, a terrorist organization, was considered a menace to a significant portion of people, who saw it gain strength, stockpile the most modern and state-of-the-art weapons in the world, train its fighters and organize them, take over a country, and prepare itself to serve as the long arm of other countries, primarily Syria and Iran, as part of their strategic struggle. Twenty one days later, that threat will never be what it was, never again will they be able to threaten this country with missile fire, because this country dealt with, and continues to deal with the missiles and defeating them.
It can never be said that the Israeli public will give up, surrender or buckle, because – Heaven forbid – someone threatened them with missiles. That is why I believe we can say today, neither over excitedly nor in a relaxed manner, but with pride, that under no circumstances can this campaign be measured by the number of missiles fired or the range of the missiles they are still firing at us. Not for one moment, from the first day, did the Minister of Defense, I, the Government of Israel nor – it must be said in its favor – the Defense Forces promise the people of Israel that, at the end of this campaign, there would not be any missiles in firing range of the State of Israel. No one can promise such a thing when there are missiles with a range of over 250 kilometers. We never thought, nor did we plan to reach every location, every corner and every post at that range. Even if we had done so in Lebanon, the countries neighboring Lebanon also have missiles, and they have even longer ranges.
However, we all know that after the bold, impressive and professional operation, which was based on unparalleled intelligence, incomparable performance and valor, those who fired the missiles will not hurry to again create friction which will instigate a confrontation that will lead to such missile fire, since they know the price they have to pay. The country that they are part of pays, the population whose support is the source of their strength pays, as does everything around them.
This happened as a result of our decision, the stamina of the army, its ability to perform, its valor and the tremendous strength of the population of the State of Israel, which is living under great difficulties, facing considerable hardship, but tells us – the higher command and political leadership – not to stop, to carry on, strike at them, distance the enemy, reduce the threat. Make it clear to them that their calculations were based on a profound misunderstanding of the inner ethos of this wonderful people, the people of Israel. They are willing to make enormous concessions, ready to make far-reaching compromises, ready to be unendingly generous in their political steps, but who have red lines which cannot be crossed, which they will not compromise, and at which they stand tall, strong, brave and determined. They will fight for their lives, their homeland, their country and its citizens.
This stamina created a completely new equation in the ratio of forces between the State of Israel and its enemies. I have no doubt that this equation will help create a new reality, which will be safer and better for the State of Israel. We are at the beginning of a political process, which I believe will eventually lead to a cease-fire with completely different conditions from those which existed on our northern border, and to the presence of a force – with unprecedented international support and the backing of Arab states, who for the first time in a military confrontation between us and an Arab population or organization, stood against that Arab organization – which will create a genuine buffer between us and those who would harm us.
All these things are part of the stamina, determination and courage shown by the State of Israel these days. One could ask me, if that is your assessment of the situation today, why do we not implement a cease-fire today? My answer is very simple. Every additional day is a day which wears down the strength of this cruel enemy. Every additional day is a day during which IDF soldiers reduce the enemy’s stamina and minimize their ability to fire on us and harm us in the future. As we announced, we will agree to a cease-fire when we know for certain that the conditions in the field are different from those which led to this campaign breaking out under the conditions which existed. It obligates patience, it obligates tenacity, it obligates determination and it is built on the courage of the people, the Chief of General Staff, and you represent them and the wonderful stamina of the people of Israel.
I cannot conclude this meeting without reading a passage from a letter I received yesterday, and I feel a profound need to share it with you:
“Mr. Prime Minister, today I became part of the family of bereavement. It is difficult. It is difficult and I am only at the beginning of the journey. I miss my son, Yiftah –salt of the earth – so much, native son, graduate of the Herzl School, scout counselor, head of the Tedhar Troop of Haifa, graduate of the Chugim School, twin brother of Yarden, born on September 11, 1984. Yiftah enlisted in the Paratroopers, completed a difficult track, completed the company commander’s course with honors, and also completed the officer’s course with honors.
My name is Shrier, Ami, native of Haifa, 61 years old and married to Yaffa, whose birthday it is today, from the House of Ruben, may their memory be blessed, Holocaust survivors, survivors of Auschwitz. My parents made Aliyah in 1936 from Vienna to Israel, and thus were saved. The rest of our family was annihilated in the Holocaust.
I have four children – Yariv, who is married to Efrat, Yonat, who is married to Guy, Yarden, Yiftah’s twin brother, who is a lieutenant in the Intelligence Corps. Yiftah was our youngest child, a fine young man who smiled always, eternally good hearted, who took care of his soldiers like a father. Yiftah served in the squadron of Yeshiva students which he wanted to serve in. Parents of his soldiers came to the shiva from Jerusalem and told us things about Yiftah that we did not know.”
He concludes by writing:
“I apologize for taking up your precious time, however, as a bereaved father, I wish to strengthen you, and I ask you to pass this letter on to the Minister of Defense, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chief of General Staff as well.”
I ask you, ladies and gentlemen, fighters and citizens, where else in the world are there people like this? Where else in the world are there such parents? Where else in the world are there such children, may they be blessed, and may we be worthy of them. I promise you, on behalf of my colleagues and on behalf of the Government of Israel, that we will act with the full force of our wisdom, responsibly, with composure and discretion, so that we can perhaps bring a measure of comfort to Ami Shrier and to Yaffa and to their children, and to all the other bereaved families who must deal with the endless pain. And perhaps thus will we take one small, but important step together, in greater security, towards greater unity for the people of Israel in our country.
Thank you.