Khaberni - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that his government will decide which international forces are allowed to enter the Gaza Strip and which are not.
During a conference for the forum of senior leaders of the Israeli army reserves, attended by Defense Minister Yisrael Katz and the army's chief of staff General Eyal Zamir, Netanyahu emphasized the need for a "large, strong, and wise army," announcing plans to increase the duration of mandatory service and enhance the reserve forces system.
He stressed that Israel is entering a new phase of ongoing initiative.
Netanyahu said: "We have changed, we no longer just contain, but there is initiative and activity at all times. We have not only changed the Middle East, but also ourselves."
He added that "the reserve system is an essential element in the Israeli military system, and we need a large, strong, and smart army," explaining that there will be "an increase in the duration of mandatory service, strengthening the reserve system and supporting the families associated with it."
He noted that "the new thinking is based on the idea that the reserve soldier and his family are not two separate entities, but a single integrated unit representing the backbone of Israeli society."
