Barak: Prepared to make firm decisions regarding Iran

IDF Spokesperson 17 February 2010 , 11:02
http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/today/10/02/1702.htm

Ehud Barak and Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi attended the Ground Officers' Training
Course graduation; 7% of graduates, female combat soldiers

The Minister of Defense, Ehud Barak, and the Chief of the General Staff, Lt.
Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, participated in the graduation ceremony of the 26th
Ground Forces Officers' Training Course on Tuesday (Feb. 16) at the IDF
Officers' School. The ceremony was also attended by the Commander of the GOC
Army Headquarters, Maj. Gen. Sami Turgeman, the Chief Corps Officers and the
Commander of the IDF Officers' School, Col. Yehuda Fuchs.

The Minister of Defense, Ehud Barak, addressed the issue of the Iranian
threat during his speech to the new officers. "The world is very aware that
Iran continues to display open hostility and hatred toward the Middle East,
through means of funding and the transfer of weaponry to Hezbollah and
Hamas," he said, and emphasized: "We are prepared to make firm decisions,
for the sake of a better future."

"Soon, when you are deployed on your new bases, remember that this is a
challenge few have the opportunity to undergo, a challenge which is a great
privilege, but also a great responsibility," said the Chief of the General
Staff during the ceremony. "Equipped with a set of values and the warm
embrace of the Israeli people, go on your way, take command, fulfill your
missions successfully and return home in peace. We have faith in you and are
proud of you," he added.

Three Caracal Battalion graduates

For the first time, three of the graduates of the ground forces course are
female combat soldiers of the Caracal Battalion, a unit composed mostly of
women and in charge of patrolling the Israeli-Egyptian border. Altogether,
7% of this semester's graduates are women.