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Israel to Revamp Army for New Risks

(Wall Street Journal) Joshua Mitnick - Israel's military plans to downsize its conventional firepower such as tanks and artillery to focus on countering threats from guerrilla warfare and to boost its technological prowess, in a recognition that the Middle East turmoil has virtually halted the ability of neighbors to invade for years to come. Formidable militaries in Egypt and Syria, which fought together against Israel three times in a quarter century, are now mired in domestic unrest. The plan marks a sea change in Israel's outlook toward the main military threats it faces. "Wars of military versus military - in the format we last met 40 years ago, in the Yom Kippur War - are becoming less and less relevant," said Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon. Defense chiefs and military analysts said that the overhaul would focus on countering threats from guerrilla armies with rockets embedded in civilian areas, such as Hizbullah and Hamas. Israel will also focus on cyberwarfare and confronting Iran, which seeks to build a nuclear weapon.
2013-07-12 00:00:00
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