The Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee voted unanimously on Tuesday
to increase the number of reservists who can be ordered to participate in
Operation Pillar of Defense to 70,000.
“Following my conversation with
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu this morning, I can say that continuing to
call up reservists is relevant, and the IDF is prepared for all scenarios,”
Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman Ronnie Bar-On (Kadima)
said ahead of the vote.
Bar-On also said Israel should see Egyptian
President Mohamed Morsi’s mediation between Israel and Hamas as a guarantee of
peace and quiet in case of a cease-fire.
“I wish to thank the Egyptian
president for his contribution in mediating between the sides,” Bar-On said.
“Continuing cooperation between us and Cairo to strengthen regional peace and
quiet is essential and must be seen as a true guarantee that the conditions of a
cease-fire with Hamas will be fulfilled – if an agreement is
reached.”
Bar-On commended the IDF for working “surgically” and avoiding
harm to those who are not involved in the conflict.
In addition, the
committee chairman said the IDF is ready to cause “deep, immeasurable pain” to
the terrorist infrastructure in Gaza.
The Kadima MK thanked reservists
for leaving their families and having a high motivation to participate in
Operation Pillar of Defense.
“It is important that we make sure calling
up reservists is done because they are needed to reach [the IDF’s] goals, and
that they receive all of the logistical and operation conditions to do so,” he
said.
Bar-On also saluted the residents of the South for keeping strong
under fire.