A senior Israeli army official says Israel might stay in Gaza one year and a half

Sunday December 30, 2007 18:43 by Rami Almeghari - IMEMC&Agencies

Israeli army senior official, Ghabi Ashkenazi, stated Sunday that the Israeli army- once it invades Gaza- will stay over there for one year and a half.

Israeli tanks on Gaza-Israel border lines/ photo by Maan News Agency

Ashkenazi, who serves as the Israeli army's chief of staff, was speaking during a closed security meeting on a potential large-scale attack on the Gaza Strip.

"It will be clear whether we or the Palestinians will eventually be defeated in case we massively invade Gaza", Ashkenazi told the meeting.

Askenazi cited possible prolonged stay in Gaza to Israeli army's willingness to stop, once and for all, the Palestinian homemade shells fire from Gaza onto nearby Israeli towns.

During the meeting, reported by Israeli media sources, the Israeli military discussed a plan to completely control Gaza, in case a massive attack is carried out.

The plan includes control over large Gaza Strip's cities like Gaza Rafah and Gaza, dismemberment of the coastal region into three separate parts, as well as taking over control of the Philadelphia route on Gaza-Egypt border line.

Israeli military has repeatedly warned of a massive attack on the Gaza Strip, in a bid to stop what Israel says ' homemade shells fire' from Gaza onto nearby Israeli towns.

Israel declared Gaza a 'hostile entity' in September and imposed large fuel supplies cuts in October, as a crippling closure of the region continues unease since June, after the Islamist Hamas group seized control of Gaza.

gaza strip | israeli attacks | news report rami at imemc dot org