"We will not agree to Radwan and Hezbollah and will repel them. We are ready to go on the offensive as well," Northern Command Maj. Gen. Uri Gordin said Saturday evening at the lighting ceremony of the third candle of Hanukkah with the evacuated residents of Metula, held in Tiberias. Gordin promised that next year he would light candles with the residents in Metula.
"On the one hand, I say Happy holiday, on the other hand, there is a lot of difficulty on this evening in the fact that we light this candle here in Tiberias and not in Metula," he told residents who were evacuated in early October.
"Two months ago we woke up to the morning of a murderous, criminal, inhuman attack, we started it with a great crisis and went to war for our home very, very strongly. It must be said that on that difficult day there were also many manifestations of heroism, most of them continue to this day, and no small part of those who showed heroism are civilians, soldiers, officers and policemen. A significant part paid with his life to do these heroic deeds and defend the people of Israel and the residents, especially in the communities near the Gaza Strip."
The general added: "We are waging a broad war, a multi-front Gaza from Gaza in the south, through Judea and Samaria – and of course you are very familiar with the border with Lebanon and the Syrian border – and also in the Red Sea and more distant places. And in all these places we are all fighting together and I think there is no more correct expression in the Hanukkah article than the war of light against darkness, and that is exactly what we are seeing these days. Much will still be said about the heroic deeds, and I don't want to talk about the heroism of the battle, but about your heroism, the heroism of the home front."
Maj. Gen. Gorodin also noted that "the Northern Command and the IDF are ready for any matter all the time, when the situation changes and we will have to go on the offensive in a strong and vigorous manner in order to strike and kill the enemy, the forces are constantly training and organizing with plans for execution. The goal of all these moves is to bring you home safely to your homes, and also to have a sense of security.
"On Chanukah they talk about the heroism of the Maccabees, and yes it was then in these days and at this time. It's you and us together fighting for our home together and I have no doubt that the light will overcome the darkness. And the way to get there is each in their own little patch of God to do the thing in the right place and together in partnership working together and fighting together to bring great Light."
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