Gallant: War aims out of date due to war's expansion

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant sent a letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu and other cabinet ministers today (Sunday) saying that the government's way policy is based on an "expired compass" as conditions have changed, requiring an updating of the country's war aims.

Gallant said that this updating was needed, especially due to increasing direct hostilities with Iran, and this meant "in Gaza: establishing a reality without a military threat, preventing the buildup of terror capabilities, returning all the hostages and promoting an alternative to the rule of Hamas. In Lebanon: Creating a security reality which will allow the speedy return of the residents of the north to their homes."

Prime Minister Netanyahu called the letter "very odd," saying that there is "one compass, and this is the war aims determined by the cabinet. The aims are examined all the time, and were even recently expanded."