(Ynet).Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Tuesday visited the northern border, where he met with some 40,000 teenagers. "When the left hand opens every door in search of peace, the right hand is on the trigger, ready for any possibility," he told them.
The defense minister took part in the last day of the "In the footsteps of fighters" project, which has taken high school students to battle sites and meetings with representatives of the Israel Defense Forces' various corps, who presented them with the options for joining combat service in the sea, air and land.
Addressing the security situation, Barak said, "There are not only friends around us, but also enemies. We are constantly developing in terms of defense, and fighting whenever needed. We have been in a series of wars since the War of Independence to the Second Lebanon War and Operation Cast Lead.
"Israel is not hesitating and is doing all it can to make peace, and peace cannot be made in the Middle East if you don’t have the strongest army. As the left door opens every door in search of peace, the right hand is on the trigger, ready for any option at any given moment."
He turned to the youth and said, "There is no liberty for the people without having someone to protect it. Any country seeking life must have the youths' readiness to enlist to the systems supporting the fighting and to the front's units, knowing that there is a danger and that they may lose their lives while defending the land and homeland."
The defense minister took part in the last day of the "In the footsteps of fighters" project, which has taken high school students to battle sites and meetings with representatives of the Israel Defense Forces' various corps, who presented them with the options for joining combat service in the sea, air and land.
Addressing the security situation, Barak said, "There are not only friends around us, but also enemies. We are constantly developing in terms of defense, and fighting whenever needed. We have been in a series of wars since the War of Independence to the Second Lebanon War and Operation Cast Lead.
"Israel is not hesitating and is doing all it can to make peace, and peace cannot be made in the Middle East if you don’t have the strongest army. As the left door opens every door in search of peace, the right hand is on the trigger, ready for any option at any given moment."
He turned to the youth and said, "There is no liberty for the people without having someone to protect it. Any country seeking life must have the youths' readiness to enlist to the systems supporting the fighting and to the front's units, knowing that there is a danger and that they may lose their lives while defending the land and homeland."