Defense Ministry's Gilad: We can't take risk of kidnapping

By JPOST.COM STAFF
The Defense Ministry's diplomatic-military bureau chief, Amos Gilad, on Wednesday defended the IDF operation to destroy a Gaza tunnel dug in order to kidnap a soldier, an operation which led to the worst outbreak of violence since a shaky cease-fire between Israel and Gaza factions took effect in June. "The kidnapping of an Israeli soldier is a totally unreasonable risk to take and it was worth making every effort to prevent it," Gilad told Israel Radio. Nevertheless, Gilad was optimistic regarding the future of the cease-fire. "I don't believe that this marks the end of the truce. The cease-fire is [also] in place due to the interests of the other side that certainly still wants to prevent harsh IDF attacks and other blows Israel can deal it. It has an interest in this period of calm," he insisted.