TEL AVIV [MENL] -- Israel's military is preparing for an offensive war
against its Arab adversaries that would involve the capture of territory to
ensure victory in any future regional conflict.Israeli military planners have been discussing and drafting strategies
in response for a regional war that could take place in 2003. They said such
a war is likely to begin with a Hizbullah rocket barrage from southern
Lebanon in an attack supported by Syria.Such a war, military officials said, would be fought differently from
the more than two-year-old campaign against Palestinian insurgents in the
West Bank and Gaza Strip. They said Israeli aircraft, armor and troops would
move rapidly to establish the battlefield outside of the Jewish state and
capture territory required to achieve victory."In the next war, we will be required to be decisive in a way that will
include the capture of territory," Maj. Gen. Yiftah Ron-Tal, head of the
Ground Forces Command, said. "So, we must preserve our offensive capability
in the Israeli Defense Forces. Our maneuvers must take place outisde the
border of Israel and the ingredients of a decisive victory will be the
ground forces. The burden will be placed on them."
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