Only 7 percent of the Israel Defense Force’s manpower is involved in efforts to control the intifada.
The rest is engaged in normal training and weapons development and is fully prepared for war, Gen. Dan Shomron, the IDF chief of staff, told an audience in Ramat Gan on Sunday.
He said that according to IDF intelligence, the perception in the Arab states is that Israeli military forces have not been weakened as a result of the Palestinian uprising in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, now in its third year.
The Syrians know the IDF would not be firing plastic or rubber bullets in a real war, Shomron said.
Addressing the Diamond Merchants Club, the chief of staff said the IDF would rather not have to deal with the intifada, but that is far from saying it cannot cope with it.
Shomron had no doubt that the IDF could continue maintaining order in the territories within the framework of the law. He said the military remains obedient to civilian rule and does not dictate to the national leadership what its priorities should be.
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