["We knew about the tunnels for years but not that they would be used."
Minister Tzipi Livni - Member of Security Cabinet - Friday Studio Channel 2
18 July 2014
http://youtu.be/fFGL8bcO1zU ]
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Statement from PM Netanyahu's Bureau on Preparations to Meet the Tunnels
Threat Prior to Operation Protective Edge
(Communicated by the Prime minister's Media Adviser)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bureau has released the following
statement:

"Claims that Israel was unprepared to meet the tunnel threat are without
foundation. It has been claimed that the tunnel threat had not been
presented to the Cabinet prior to Operation Protective Edge and that the
Cabinet did not know about tunnels that penetrated into our territory. This
is false.

From 11 November 2013 until 3 July 2014, the tunnel threat was presented, in
its full severity, at nine separate Cabinet meetings. The protocols show
this beyond all doubt.

Moreover, for six months prior to the operation, from 16 January 2013 until
9 July 2014, the Prime Minister convened six professional discussions on the
issue of the tunnels. The Defense Minister, IDF Chief-of-Staff, GOC Southern
Command, head of the IDF Engineering Branch, head of the IDF Technology
Branch and field commanders were among the participants in these meetings.

At these discussions, Prime Minister Netanyahu directed that operational and
technological solutions be advanced to meet the tunnels threat.

On 3 July 2014, before the start of operations and two weeks before the
ground incursion, the Prime Minister ordered the IDF to prepare for a ground
incursion to neutralize the tunnels.

It is regrettable that there are those who have misled the public on
substantive security issues when the facts are unequivocal and well known to
those who are distorting them."