Text: Mofaz defines "operating" so IDF can also retreat from West Bank

Aaron Lerner Date: 24 March 2006

Question: Will the army remain in the evacuated area?

Mofaz: We will continue operating in the area under every possible
situation. We are still operating in Gaza, though not on the ground. We
need to reserve the right to operate in all senses of the word. Judea and
Samaria is different from Gaza. We pulled the Army out of Gaza, since it
was one dense urban area, and staying there would have been difficult.
Judea and Samaria is different. But to tell you that once we leave we will
return to every place - I don't know.

The Jerusalem Post interview by Yaakov Katz - 24 March 2006

Explanation: "Operating" in an area doesn't mean "remaining" there. "We are
still operating in Gaza."

In fact, in answer to the question, Mofaz uses the term "once we leave" in
describing the IDF in the West Bank after Olmert's planned retreat.

Thus, Mofaz is actually indicating that the IDF may very well high-tail it
out of the area after razing the Jewish communities.

Unfortunately the interviewer apparently did not ask Mr. Mofaz to explain
the gaping differences between what he said prior to the Gaza retreat (that
Israel would use decisive force after the retreat in response to the first
post-retreat Qassam attacks in order to achieve deterrent effect) and
reality (many hundreds of Qassams later, the standard Israeli response to
attacks is to shell empty fields later in the day) and why the situation
would be no difference after retreating from the West Bank.

Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
(Mail POB 982 Kfar Sava)
Tel 972-9-7604719/Fax 972-3-7255730
INTERNET ADDRESS: imra@netvision.net.il
Website: http://www.imra.org.il