Haaretz: Israel Preparing Public for a New War in Gaza

Al-Manar

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Haaretz report said that Yadlin's announcement should be seen as part of an attempt by the Israeli military to prepare the public for a new attack against the Strip. The General Staff is not remotely eager for another round, especially with the Goldstone report conclusions still haunting Israeli commanders of the previous operation when they travel abroad.

The Israeli army, however, is not waiting for the Iron Dome anti-missile system to become operational in mid 2010, and is preparing for an escalation in other ways. "Just like the Israeli army was prepared for Operation Cast Lead, it is operating now by preparing and training in order to respond powerfully to any development," a military official said.

It added that what Israel should be doing in the meantime is improving its anti-missile defense systems. Iron Dome, the Israeli answer to the Katyusha and Qassam rockets, is moving along satisfactorily.

At first, a spokesman for the Islamic resistance organization's military wing, Abu Obeida, refused to confirm Yadlin's statement on the missile launch. Abu Obeida remarked that "the occupation can say whatever it likes, and whatever it says is dubious."

A few hours later, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhum issued a new statement saying the Israeli announcement was aimed to influence world public opinion ahead of the UN debate. Barhum said the diplomatic crisis triggered by the report "has led the Zionist enemy to make up excuses in an attempt to instigate public opinion against Hamas.""