IDF chief: Army bracing for escalation on Palestinian, northern fronts - Haaretz - Israel News

IDF chief: Army bracing for escalation on Palestinian, northern fronts - Haaretz - Israel News: "Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi said Tuesday that the army is preparing for a deterioration on the Palestinian front as well as in the north.

During a visit to the Shizafon army base in southern Israel, Ashkenazi said the IDF is currently working at improving its preparedness for conflict while simultaneously fighting terror.

Defense Minister Amir Peretz also spoke at the base Tuesday and said that there is no indication that Syria, Israel's northern neighbor, is interested in engaging in war with Israel, as some recent reports have suggested. Peretz expressed his hopes that the verbal escalation between the two countries will not evolve into an armed conflict. 'IDF is continually training and I hope the Syrians won't misinterpret that,' he said." Read complete post here.