Photo: IDF
Spokesman’s Office
Defense Minister Ehud Barak approved
the IDF's request on Friday evening to increase the amount of reservists
enlisted beyond the 30,000 already approved, as Operation Pillar of Defense ended its third
day. On Friday morning, IDF Chief of
Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz issued draft orders for 16,000 reservists. Most of
the reservists serve in the IDF's Engineering Corps.
The engineering corps would play a
vital part in any ground operation into the Gaza Strip, enabling armored
vehicles to move across the border into Gaza. The IDF operation to root out
terror in the coastal territory has consisted of air raids on terror targets
thus far.
The Knesset Foreign Affairs and
Defense Committee unanimously
authorized on Thursday Defense Minister Ehud Barak's request to enlist
up to 30,000 reservists.
The IDF will issue "order
nine," which is an irregular order in cases of emergency for reservists to
immediately report to duty.
"The residents of the south are
in the real line of fire, and only their strength will allow the IDF to meet
its capabilities," Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman Ronnie
Bar-On (Kadima) said. "Israel is passing on a clear message to terrorist
organizations in Gaza that disrupting life in the South will not
continue."
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