Prime Minister Ehud Olmert today visited the IDF Gaza Division and met with officers and soldiers.� He was accompanied by Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai, IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Gaby Ashkenazi and GOC Southern Command Maj.-Gen. Yoav Galant.
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Prime Minister Olmert was briefed by GOC Gaza Division Brig.-Gen. Moshe Tamir, Brig.-Gen. Yoav Satrik and battalion commanders serving in the area.� They discussed recent events in the south, as well as military operations and activities in the Gaza district and along Israel�s southwestern border.�
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Following the briefing, Prime Minister Olmert met with soldiers from the Golani Brigade�s 12th Battalion.� He told the soldiers: �I am pleased that I have this opportunity to personally thank you, both on my behalf and that of the Government, for the splendid work that you are doing here.� There is a war going on in the south of the country and people in the center do not always feel it or understand it.� When there is a laconic report that the IDF has struck at terrorists, not many can estimate the scope of the IDF activity and the security forces behind it.� You have foiled countless terrorist actions that could have caused many civilian casualties.� In the past three months, we have killed approximately 130 terrorists.� To our great joy, casualties on our side have been very low.� You are brave and determined fighters with an uncommon motivation that allows you to operate day and night without respite.� You asked me about budgets and you asked for a supplement for purchasing advanced equipment.� I can tell you that we passed a defense budget for the next ten years with a supplement of NIS 100 billion.� While this plan covers many units and must answer the needs of various security force units, I am certain that by my next visit here, you will be able to tell me that there has been an improvement on this issue as well.�