Chief of Military Intelligence Major-General Aviv Kochavi on Monday 9 Elul 5772 stated that in the coming year Israeli will find itself in a destabilized region with rising tensions. He describes the new situation as �increasingly Islamist�, more so than we have known in the past.

The senior official was presenting an annual assessment to IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz and members of the General Staff. Kochavi focused on what is known as the �Axis of Evil� which includes Iran, Hizbullah, Hamas and Syria. He stated that the assessment is the result of a long hard probe by the best of the intelligence corps researchers, giving credibility and validity to the predicted reality. The intelligence report serves as a basis for major decisions in the military by the General Staff.

He states that the crisis�s taking place in the region is taking some leaders to �their limit� and the impact is and will be seen on both the local and regional levels which may lead to a sudden �eruption� of the area.

(YWN � Israel Desk, Jerusalem)