Barak: Israel will win the next war

Israel will win the next war it is forced to fight, Defense Minister Ehud Barak vowed during a military ceremony on Monday.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak confers the Second Lebanon War pin to IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi. Photo: IDF

"If another war suddenly breaks out, we expect that it will end in victory, with the minimum amount of casualties, and minimum injury to the citizenry," Barak said. During the ceremony, Barak officially gave the Second Lebanon War pin to IDF general staff, including Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, as well as former Chief of General Staff Dan Halutz. "This war was not just an IDF war," Barak said. "This was a war for fighters who saw action up close, and for those who weren't in the line of fire, [like] the million and a half citizens who were in the range of missiles." Speaking during the ceremony, Ashkenazi said that soldiers should wear the Second Lebanon War pin with pride

"I am happy to wear the pin," Ashkenazi said. "We sent our forces to conduct an operation, and in most places they did it well. The Israeli people are happy about these achievements, even though we paid a price, 119 soldiers killed. This is an honorable pin, and a salute to the families of the slain and injured." Jpost