"Lieutenant-General Gabi Ashkenazi, speaking at a Tel Aviv security conference, said almost daily raids on Gaza had reduced the ground threat and the firing of rockets but noted a need to carry out 'the big operation' in the future.
An unnamed Israeli source said the security cabinet later on Wednesday ruled out any such military operation in Gaza:
"The cabinet ruled out a widescale operation for the moment, but decided to continue the current pattern of localized ground incursions and air strikes."
"Army chief: Israeli military preparing for nuclear Iran scenario"
"Israel's army chief of staff hinted Wednesday that the Israeli military may have to act itself to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power, if the international community was unsuccessful in doing so.
'The international community must act determinedly to stop the 'nuclearization' of Iran,' Lieutenant-General Gaby Ashkenazi told a symposium on security at a leading Israeli think-tank in Tel Aviv.
Ashkenazi told the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS):
"But we, in the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), carry the responsibility to prepare for any scenario in case this is unsuccessful."
The military chief added that Israel would in the coming years 'significantly upgrade' its ability to act - 'defensively and offensively ' - against 'long-range threats of different kinds.'
His remarks came after a new US intelligence report partially released Monday last week said Iran had suspended its efforts to build an atom bomb in 2003.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the same symposium late Tuesday that Iran 'remains dangerous.' Olmert: "We must continue the international pressure with full force to dissuade Iran from its nuclear tendencies. [I trust the US will continue to lead the international campaign against Iran. And I am skeptical about the need of a country rich in oil and gas to enrich uranium, [unless it wants to develop nuclear weapons.]" I, personally, have had it with the fucking lying, land-stealing, mass-murdering genocidal NaZionist shits of Israel!! One more war for them, and We Americans are going to take this government apart at the seams!!! WE ARE MAD as HELL, and WE ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!!!!!!!!!
