Israel's statesmen must offer strategy to avoid next war, president says

“We must remember that victory is not just a concept involving strength or fighting forces," Rivlin said.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
President Reuven Rivlin (photo credit: REUTERS)
President Reuven Rivlin
(photo credit: REUTERS)
President Reuven Rivlin on Tuesday called on Israel’s statesmen to prevent the next round of warfare with its enemies.
Speaking at an awards ceremony staged by the Defense Ministry in honor of pioneering Israelis in the field of digital and cyber security, the president praised Israel’s high-quality manpower, though he warned that the civilian leadership must put forward a strategy to prevent more fighting.
“Israel’s strategic edge can be found in the human creativity and dedication of its people,” Rivlin said. “We must remember that victory is not just a concept involving strength or fighting forces. It is not enough to have excellent systems or talented manpower.”
“In order to prevent the next war, it is incumbent upon us, the state and its statesmen, to formulate a strategy that will have elements to prevent the next conflict as long as it is possible and desirable to do so,” Rivlin said.
“All the firepower in the world won’t be able to deter an adversary who has already lost everything and who has nothing to lose,” the president said. “We must always remember that just as war is a continuation of diplomatic processes by other means, statesmanship is the continuation of war by other means.”
"We must do everything humanly possible to reach a military solution only when all other diplomatic alternatives have been exhausted,” Rivlin said. “Indeed, those who know what might is also know the limitations of might.”
“At the end of the day, this is a human luxury - the ability to plan, invent, and create,” he said. “Man can not only hit, but also engage in dialogue.”