Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon. He said that Hamas has been demonstrating its commitment to a ceasefire with Israel. Photo: Avi Ohayon/GPO.

Israeli Defense Minister Moshe “Bogie” Ya’alon said on Tuesday morning that Hamas has been demonstrating its commitment to a continued ceasefire with Israel, according to a report on Israel’s Channel 10 News Online.

Ya’alon made his remarks during a speech before an economic conference, and described the security situation over the course of the past year as “reasonable,” expressing his hope that this would continue for coming year, as well.

Ya’alon also addressed the effect of security on Israeli prosperity, claiming that if the defense establishment had not succeeded in neutralizing the repercussions of the rockets launched by Hamas and other terrorists from the Gaza Strip at Israel, the economy would have been severely harmed.

“The state of Israel is the most secure country in terms of layers of protection. This comes with a high price, but the alternative — human casualties and damage to the economy  — would be much greater,” said Ya’alon.

Ya’alon also addressed Israel’s children, who began their school year today.

“It is not possible to start the day, the start of the academic year, without giving a blessing to the students of Israel on their first day of school, also out of recognition of the importance of the human element to security, to the economy and also to good citizenship,” he said.

He also expressed hope that Israeli students would be strengthened in their values and the justice of those values, including: “faith in law, in the importance of law; to respect a human being as a human being, regardless of religion, race, gender or sexual orientation. I wish the students much success.”