While meeting with over 100 squad commanders from all over the army, Lt. Gen. Gantz said the IDF could handle “the growing threat of terrorism in the north”
Date: 03/10/2012, 10:46 PM
Author: IDF Editors
In honor of Sukkot, the Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz hosted 102 squad commanders from field units across the army. The commanders spoke with the Chief of Staff, sharing feelings, personal stories, and challenges they face while serving in their roles.
During the meeting, Lt. Gen. Gantz addressed the growing tensions along the Syrian border in the Golan Heights and said, “We hear about the potential Iranian threat, with Hezbollah based in Lebanon and the continuing events in Syria.”
“Assad is slaughtering his people and losing control. Terrorist organizations, such as the Global Jihad, are based there. Along the Syrian border in the Golan Heights, we will handle both the regular military threat and the threat of terrorism which continues to grow and acquire additional arms and ammunition,” added Lt. Gen Gantz.
Present at the meeting were two squad commanders from the Karakal Battalion and the Artillery Battalions who participated in the terrorist incident along the Egyptian Border two weeks ago. Lt. Gen. Gantz told them “you have a considerable part in contributing to the security of Israel and to the State of Israel. We face a great many threats and we can deal with them all the branches of the army.
What is a certainty is that anytime we face any enemy in any district- it will be you and your soldiers who face them. You will meet the enemy, whether in the coastal patrol ships near Gaza, in a tank, with a cannon, or on the ground.”
The IDF Spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Yoav (Poly) Mordechai, said the story moved him most was that of Sgt. Nur Atash, a squad commander within the Givati Brigade who moved from New York to serve in the IDF. “Nur enlisted as a soldier within the Center for Advancement of Special Populations and overcame many obstacles in order to serve as combat soldier and get a command position. In the future, Nur will become a commander of other soldiers like him and come full circle,” said Brig. Gen. Mordecai via his facebook page.