IMRA Weekly Observations: 7 About the Gantz Campaign - by Dr. Aaron Lerner

...Risk Israeli lives when not legally required: Gantz has boasted that he risked the lives of Golani troops when he took precautions for the benefit of Palestinians which in his own judgment were not required by the law. He did not touch on this crucial issue in his remarks.

Dr. Aaron Lerner..
IMRA Weekly Observations..
30 January '19..
Link: http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=73452

Some observations regarding former COS Gantz's speech last night and his candidacy in general:

1. Retreat of civilians: Gantz indicated that in the absence of a deal with the Palestinians that the Israeli civilian presence in Judea and Samaria be limited to the vaguely defined "settlement blocs". There would possibly be troops deployed in the Jordan Valley (he termed it Israel's "security border") but the communities in the Jordan Valley have never been included in anyone's delineation of the "settlement blocs".

2. No contours to deal with Palestinians: Gantz's requirements were all in the context of what Israeli would do unilaterally if there isn't a "deal". Its not clear what "red lines"Gantz has for a deal..

3. No concern over Gaza arms build up: Gantz opposes the Qatari cash transfers that were already discontinued before he spoke but said nothing about the ongoing weapons build up in the Gaza Strip.

4. Muzzle criticism of senior officials and institutions? : "there shall not be wild attacks against the [IDF} Chief of Staff, the head of the police, and the attorney general...incitement against the institutions of the courts, culture and media."

5. Signal economic actors that participation in the housing sector may expose them to risk of prosecution: "I shall impose severe sanctions against those who profiteer in the prices of land and housing".

6. Risk Israeli lives when not legally required: Gantz has boasted that he risked the lives of Golani troops when he took precautions for the benefit of Palestinians which in his own judgment were not required by the law. He did not touch on this crucial issue in his remarks.

7. Military vs. civilian leadership in general: a short list of some of the instances that the brass was wrong and civilians right:

- Developing and deploying Israeli spy satellites (the brass didn't understand why we couldn't rely on America to share information).
- Deploying submarines which can carry Jericho rockets (the brass didn't understand why Israel needs second strike capability).
- Destroying Hezbollah's mid-range rockets in opening attack (the brass wanted to first attack Lebanese infrastructure)
- Assessment of the importance of the Hamas tunnels (the brass - including Gantz - wanted to essentially ignore their existence)
- Developing a large scale surface-to-surface guided missile capability (the brass likes planes).

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IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis: Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on Arab-Israeli relations
Website: www.imra.org.il

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