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Former Israeli Defense Minister: IDF Must Cut Its Ground Force

Based on his experience during the Second Lebanon War, former Defense Minister Amir Peretz calls for Israel to “re-examine the scope of the IDF ground or naval forces.”
Israel's former defence minister Amir Peretz pauses during news conference in Tel Aviv, January 31, 2008, following the presentation of the Winograd Commission findings on Wednesday. Israeli newspapers forecast Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's survival on Thursday after a report criticised the army and his government's conduct during a 2006 war in Lebanon but offered him a political reprieve. REUTERS/Gil Cohen Magen (ISRAEL) - RTR1WI35
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Environmental Protection Minister Amir Peretz is very concerned about the announcement of Chief of Staff Benny Gantz [June 3] regarding cancellation of operational activities of reserve soldiers until the end of the year as a result of the anticipated cutbacks to the defense budget.

Peretz has much experience in this sphere. When he served as defense minister in former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's government (2006-09), he received a reserve force that was neglected and unfit for duty — only about two months before the eruption of the Second Lebanon War. In an interview with Al-Monitor, Peretz warns about a similar blow to the reserves deployment and warns that this could be one mistake too many, in light of a stormy Middle East. Peretz also admits that he is frustrated by the diplomatic "standstill" characterizing the government of which he is a member.

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