With talk of another war this summer, Defense Minister Amir Peretz said the reports are “irresponsible and baseless.”
Peretz also said, "There is no estimation that Israel is preparing for a war next summer. There are no data indicating such a thing. I call on everyone to be cautious in the declarations they make."
Speaking in Tel Aviv on Saturday to the families of soldiers wounded in tank battles, Peretz said, “We are not allowed to panic as if we know an additional war will happen this summer.”
He added, “The army is prepared for war and the political echelon will do all in order to prevent it.”
In reaction to the kidnapping of Israel’s soldiers, Peretz said Israel would not tolerate bullying.
“We had no choice but to deliver a devastating blow to the [Hizballah] terrorists. The IDF came out ahead in this war.”