Alwaght- A former Israeli general says the regime is the world champion of occupation and has elevated occupation to an art form.
"We [Israelis] are the world champions of occupation. I was GOC Central Command, a general of the occupation. And I’m asking, is this what we want to be?” the former head of the IDF Central Command Maj. Gen. Gadi Shamni told a conference at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya.
"We have elevated the occupation to an art form. Every step we take should stem from one strategic goal — separation from the Palestinians,” he added.
Confirming the declining ethics and capabilities of the Israeli army, he said “The IDF is busy controlling a population of 2.5 million civilians [which] diverts the army from its primary function. The IDF is having trouble preparing for the threats facing it. The army’s ethics and capabilities are drained and it becomes a punching bag for politicians".
Shamni led the Israeli army’s Central Command in the years 2007-2009 and left the army in 2012.
"Israel will never agree to an arrangement that doesn’t answer its security needs. The only acceptable solution is an agreed-upon separation from the Palestinians,” he said.
Turning to the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, Shamni said that even if Hamas were to give up its weapons, it would take years until there could be open passage through Israeli territory between Gaza and the West Bank.
